HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260126 24 Covell Ave. 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)
#20260126
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Suzanne Baumgarten
24 Covell Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 24 Covell Avenue in the City of
Saratoga Springs, New York being tax parcel number 166.29-1-55, in the UR-2 district on the Assessment Map
of said City.
This being an application for an area variance under the Zoning Ordinance of said City to permit the construction
of a new single-family home with an attached garage, 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 applicant 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
MINIMUM LOT SIZE 6600 SQ FT 4248 SQ FT 2352 SQ FT OR 36.6% RELIEF
FRONT SETBACK TO COVELL AVENUE 10’ 1’ 9’ OR 90% RELIEF
FRONT SETBACK TO RT. 50 10’ 1’ 9’ OR 90% RELIEF
In accordance to Section 8.4.KK.2.d: The dwelling must have a primary entrance (i.e. front door) from a façade
facing the street.
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
1. The applicant has demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by other means feasible to the
applicant. The applicant would like to construct a new single-family home on a pre-existing, undersized
and irregularly shaped lot.
2. The applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an undesirable change in
neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. The Board notes that the size of the proposed
structure is consistent with neighboring structures, and the Board also notes that this new single-family
home would fit closely with the existing character of this neighborhood, which consists primarily of
single-family residences.
3. The Board notes that the requested variances are considered substantial, but this is mitigated by the
factors described above.
4. This variance will not have a significant adverse physical or environmental effect on the neighborhood
or district. Permeability will meet the district requirement.
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5. The alleged difficulty is self-created insofar as it is motivated by the applicant’s desire to construct a
new single-family home, but this is not necessarily fatal to the application.
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