HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260315 431 Grand 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
#20260315
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Alex and Sarah Mytelka
431 Grand Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 431 Grand Avenue in the City of
Saratoga Springs, New York being tax parcel number 165.-2-51.11 on the Assessment Map of said City.
The applicant having applied for an area variance under the UDO of said City to permit the construction of an
addition in the Suburban Residential (SR) district and public notice having been duly given of a hearing on said
application on June 22, 2026 and July 13, 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 amounts of relief:
TYPE OF REQUIREMENT DISTRICT
DIMENSIONAL
REQUIREMENT
PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
INTERIOR SIDE SETBACK 15’ 8.5’ 6.5’ (43%)
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
1. Achievability by Other Means: The applicants have demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by
other means feasible to the applicants. The applicants would like to build an addition in the rear of the
house and connect their garage to the main structure. The applicant submits that there is no additional
land available for purchase.
2. Undesirable Change: The applicants have demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an
undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or adversely affect nearby properties. The
existing garage will remain in its current location and will not be moved any closer to the property line.
The lot is heavily wooded, providing substantial natural screening. The need for the variance arises
solely because the garage is being connected to the main residence, causing it to be classified as part of
the principal structure under the zoning code.
3. Substantiality: The Board finds that the variance is significant, however this is mitigated by the factors
mentioned above.
4. Adverse Effect or Impact: The Board finds that the variance will not have significant adverse physical
or environmental effects on the neighborhood or district. The property will adhere to the standard
district permeability requirements.
5. Self-Created Difficulty: The alleged difficulty is self-created insofar as the applicants desire to build
the addition, but this is not necessarily fatal to the application.
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Dated: July 13, 2026
Passes by the following vote:
AYES: 6 (G. Simpson, B. Dailey, 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, six members of the Board
being present.
SIGNATURE:
CHAIR