HomeMy WebLinkAbout20191162 Hanley Residence Correspondance (2)
January 6, 2020
To: Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals
From: Lawrence and Leslie Benton 61 Fifth Avenue
Dear Zoning Board of Appeals Members:
We'd like to express our concerns with the latest proposal to demolish an existing neighborhood
Home and replace it with a substantially larger structure that requires extensive relief from the area
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
Over the past several years we've seen a number of older modest single family homes torn
down and replaced with structures that now dominate adjacent homes. At least one other proposed
demolition was prevented by the Board.
I understand that one of the Board's roles is to provide relief to property owners when area
requirements prevent the construction of a needed addition or expansion of an existing home site as
long as that addition does not have a negative impact on adjacent homeowners or on the overall
character of the neighborhood. That doesn't appear to be the case here.
The conceptual streetscape plan of the proposed new structure in relationship to the adjoining
properties to the east and west doesn't appear accurate as the property on the west is a single story
ranch.
One of the fundamental guidelines for Zoning Boards of Appeal in consideration of area
variances is to grant the "minimum variance(s) required to provide reasonable relief to a property
owner". We respectfully request that the Board seek to balance the desire of the new property owners
with the existing character the neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Lawrence and Leslie Benton