**TOWN OF GRAND ISLAND**

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

                                                                  DRAFT

MINUTES

November 5, 2009

 

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:            Marion Fabiano, Betty Harris, Dario Violanti, Peter McKee, Chairman, Bob Mesmer and Alternate member, Tim Phillips

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:                  None

 

OTHERS PRESENT:               Dan Linenfelser, Zoning Officer

 

 

Chairman, Peter McKee opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. He introduced the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals and explained the process.  Copies of the Legal Notice of Appeal to be heard at this meeting published in the Island Dispatch on September 18, 2009 were available to those present.

                                                                                                                                   

           

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1) 2560 East River Road – Duncan Smith –

The property is zoned R1C, the Appellant received a 49.5’ front yard setback variance at the June 4, 2009 ZBA meeting.  It was then discovered that the Appellant had constructed a 15’ x 30’ x 8’ high pergola.  Per Section 49-27C of the Zoning Code, the maximum height on riverside lots is 4’.  Therefore, the Appellant is now requesting a 4’ height variance.

 

ZBA member Fabiano stated that if the Appellant had requested this variance prior to construction, it wouldn’t have been granted.  However, ZBA member Violanti stated that in his visit to the site, he observed that the pergola is below grade.

 

Speaker in favor:

 

Frank DelSignore, 2500 East River Road

Mr. DelSignore is also on tonight’s agenda for a height variance on a waterside lot for the construction of a pergola.

 

A motion was made by Fabiano / Violanti to GRANT a 4’ height variance for the construction of an 8’ pergola on the waterside lot at 2560 East River Road.

 

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes:  Fabiano, Violanti, Harris, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

           

 

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11/05/09

 

 

Rationale:  This action is taken because:

 

1.       the requested variance will not create a detriment to nearby properties.

2.       the pergola is below grade and cannot be seen from the road.

 

 

           

2) 2500 East River Road – Frank DelSignore –

The property is zoned R1C, the Appellant received a 33 ½ ’ front yard setback variance at the January 4, 2007 ZBA meeting.  It was then discovered that the Appellant had also constructed a 12’ x 14’ x 8’ 6” high pergola.  Per Section 49-27C of the Zoning Code, the maximum height on riverside lots is 4’.  Therefore, the Appellant is now requesting a 4’ 6” height variance.

 

Speaker in favor:

 

Duncan Smith, 2560 East River Road

Mr. Smith is also on tonight’s agenda for a height variance on a waterside lot for the construction of a pergola.

 

A motion was made by Fabiano / Violanti to GRANT a 4’ 6” height variance for the construction of an 8’ pergola on the waterside lot at 2500 East River Road.

 

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes:  Fabiano, Violanti, Harris, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

 

 

Rationale:  This action is taken because:

 

1.  the requested variance will not create a detriment to nearby properties.

2.      the pergola is below grade and cannot be seen from the road.

 

 

2095 Baseline Road – Thomas C. Lepenven, D.M.D. –

The property is zoned TCMU.  Appearing on behalf of the Appellant is Dennis Wilcox, of the Wilcox Sign Company.  Dr. Lepenven is requesting to construct a new sign which has an overall measurement of 8’ x 12’.  The actual area of the sign is 50 square feet.  The present sign is 6’ x 4’.  The requested variance is for 2’ additional height and 6’ additional length.  Mr. Wilcox indicated that the new sign is needed for greater visibility and will be light up at night. 

 

The ZBA members felt that the new Design and Performance Standards should be followed and a sign which is 6’ x 6’ is large enough for visibility.  This is a self created situation and there is no hardship here.

 

 

 

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11/05/09

 

 

A motion was made by Fabiano / Mesmer to DENY an additional 2’ height and an additional 6’ length variance for the construction of an 8’ x 12’ sign at the front of 2095 Baseline Road.

 

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes:  Fabiano, Violanti, Harris, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

 

 

Rationale:  This action is taken because:

 

1.      the alleged difficulty was self created.

2.      it is very easy to comply with the Design and Performance Standards.

3.      there is no hardship.

 

 

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

 

1) West River Road – Nixon Peabody LLP – Proposed telecommunication tower on Russell & Patricia Colosi’s property on West River Road.  Zoning Code 49-196C states that the setback for a telecommunication tower is 500’ from a residential dwelling.  The proposed tower will be approximately 442’ from the Colosi residence; therefore a 58’ setback variance is requested.  Remains tabled pending receipt of the SEQR report from the Town Board.

 

2) 2770 Long Road – Verizon Wireless – Property is zoned M1. Proposed is a telecommunication facility.  Per Zoning Code Section 49-196C, there should be a 500’ setback for the fall down area.  Tem remains tabled pending receipt of the SEQR report from the Town Board.

 

3) 2255 Grand Island Boulevard – Michael Jordan of Redtek Development  - Property is zoned R3, B1, and R1D.  Proposed is the construction of a Senior Housing Complex with building walls greater than 160’ in length.  Per Schedule 1 of the Zoning Code, the maximum allowable building length is 160’.  The item was tabled indefinitely at the owner’s request.

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

 

Memo from County of Erie Department of Environment and Planning

Email from Dan Spitzer, Town Attorney Genser v Board of Zoning & Appeals of Town of Hempstead (2009 NY Slip Op 06548).htm

 

 

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11/05/09

 

A motion was made by McKee/Violanti to enter into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. for the purpose of obtaining legal advice from the Town Attorney regarding the Nye lawsuit.

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes: Harris, Fabiano, Violanti, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

 

 

A motion was made by McKee/Violanti to return to the regular Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7:56 p.m.

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes: Harris, Fabiano, Violanti, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

 

 

 

MINUTES:

 

A motion made by Fabiano/Violanti to ACCEPT the October 1, 2009 minutes as written.

 

 

Roll Call:

            Ayes: Harris, Fabiano, Violanti, McKee, and Mesmer

            Noes:  None

            Carried

 

 

 

 

OTHER MINUTES RECEIVED AND FILED:

 

Board of Architectural Review Minutes, September 15, 2009

Planning Board Agenda,

Planning Board Minutes,

Town Board Agenda, Sept. 21, 2009, Oct. 5, 2009, Oct. 19, 2009

Town Board Minutes, Sept. 8, 2009

 

Adjournment: 8:00 p.m. on November 5, 2009

Jacqueline McGinty, Recording Secretary prepared the minutes.