HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260081 14 Mitchell St. Area Variance NODPage 1 of 2
CITY OF SARATOGA
SPRINGS
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CITY HALL - 474 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK 12866
518-587-3550
WWW.SARATOGA-SPRINGS.ORG
Gage Simpson, Chair
Brendan Dailey, Vice Chair
Amanda Demma
Jonah Cohen
Otis Maxwell
Chris LaPointe
Steve Harrigan
Chris Maslak (Alternate)
#20260081
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Springwater Bed and Breakfast, Inc
94 George Street
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 14 Mitchell Street in the City of Saratoga Springs,
New York being tax parcel number 166.69-3-24, in the Urban Residential 3 (UR-3) District on the Assessment Map of said
City.
This being an application for an area variance under the UDO of said City to permit the partial demolition and construction
of an addition at the rear of the structure, and public notice having been duly given of a hearing on said application held on
March 30, 2026.
In consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicants with detriment to the health, safety, and welfare of the
community, I move that the following area variance for the following amount of relief:
TYPE OF REQUIREMENT DISTRICT DIMENSIONAL
REQUIREMENT
PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
REAR YARD SETBACK 25’ 7.3’ 17.7’ OR 71% RELIEF
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
1. Achievability by Other Means: The applicant has demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by other
means feasible to the applicant. The applicant would like to demolish the existing rear portion of the house
and re-construct a new addition to accommodate their need for a new kitchen and additional living space.
Alternative design options were explored by the applicant, but — due in part to the unusual configuration of
the lot — designs that would not have encroached on the rear yard setback were insufficient to meet the
needs of the applicant. No adjacent land is available for purchase.
2. Undesirable Change: The applicants have demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an
undesirable change in neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. Relative to the existing
condition, the applicants’ proposed addition would make the house more compliant with zoning
requirements by increasing the rear yard setback from 2.25 feet to 7.3 feet. The proposed addition would also
provide an aesthetic improvement to the house by replacing dilapidated structures with new and more
attractive ones. The Board also notes that the addition requiring the variance will be at the back of the house
and will not be visible from the street.
3. Substantiality: The requested variance may be considered substantial, but this is mitigated by the factors
described above.
4. Adverse Effects: This variance will not have a significant adverse physical or environmental effect on the
neighborhood or district. Permeability will meet the district requirement.
5. Self-Created Difficulty: The alleged difficulty is self-created insofar as it is motivated by the applicants’ desire
to demolish the existing rear portion of their house and construct a new addition , but this is not necessarily
fatal to the application.
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Dated: March 30, 2026
Passes by the following vote:
AYES: 7 (G. Simpson, B. Dailey, J. Cohen, O. Maxwell, A. Demma, C. LaPointe, S.
Harrigan)
NAYS: 0
This variance shall expire 18 months following the filing date of such decision unless the necessary
building permit has been issued and actual construction begun as per the Unified Development
Ordinance.
I hereby certify the above to be a full, true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Zoning
Board of Appeals of the City of Saratoga Springs on the date above mentioned, seven members of the
Board being present.
SIGNATURE:
CHAIR