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2003-04-08 ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS April st\ 2003 ',-" Agenda Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals MEETING DATE: April 8, 2003 TIME: 7:30 PM Town Hall 20 Middlebush Road Wappingers Falls, NY Approve Minutes for March 25, 2003. Approve Site Minutes for March 29, 2003 -Popow Public Hearin2s: ....... Appeal No. 03-7162 Jere & Christine Popow -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. _ Where a side yard setback of 20 feet is reQuired, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 18 feet for the installation of an above 2round 24 foot pool, thus reQuestin2 a variance of 2 feet. The property is located on 6 Barbara Drive and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6158-02- 835813 in the Town of Wappinger. Appeal No. 03-7161 Hettin2er/Fernwood Floral -Seeking an Interpretation following the determination of the Zoning Administrator, dated March 7, 2003 regarding Section 240-16 (c) 3 and its applicability to the proposed use as a florist shop versus its current use as a copy center. The property is located on 51 Myers Corners Road and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6157-02-899988 in the Town of Wappinger. Discussions: Appeal No. 03-7163 Ann Marie Haley -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. _ Where a side yard setback of 20 feet is reQuired, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 10 feet for the construction of a two-car 2ara2e and addition, thus reQUestin2 a variance of 10 feet. The property is located on 149 Chelsea Road and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6358-01- 103547 in the Town of Wappinger. ~ I ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS April 81\ 2003 ~ Appeal No. 03-7164 William H. Cole -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. - Where a side yard setback of 25 feet is required, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 16 feet for the construction of a shed, thus reQuestine a variance of 9 feet. The property is located on 6 Martin Drive and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6258-02- 951969 in the Town of Wappinger. ,.., ..... 2 Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals Page 1 Minutes of April 8, 2003 I-J~ r MINUTES Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals April 8th, 2003 Summarized Minutes Town Hall 20 Middlebush Road Wappinger Falls, NY Members Present: Mr. Lehigh, Mr. diPierno, Mr. Fanuele, Mr. Warren, Chairman Member Member Member Absent: Mr. Prager, Vice-Chairman Others Present: Mr. Roberts, Town Attorney Mrs. Lukianoff, Zoning Administrator Mrs. Roberti, Secretary SUMMARY. Discussion: J ere Popow Hettinger/F ernwood Ann Marie Haley William H. Cole Granted Variance of 2 feet. Adjourned Public Hearing on April 22, 2003. Public Hearing on April 22, 2003. Public Hearing on April22, 2003. Mr. Warren: Mr. diPierno: Vote: Motioned to approve Minutes for March 25, 2003. Second the motion. All present voted aye. Mr. Warren: Mr. diPierno: Vote: Motioned to approve Site Minutes for March 29, 2003. Second the motion. . All present voted aye. 1\(1' (,Pi ; ,'...... ., ;::.1...-; #_r'< , :: ( ~ . Page 2 Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes of April 8, 2003 Appeal No. 03-7162 Jere & Christine Popow -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. _ Where a side yard setback of 20 feet is reu uired, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 18 feet for the installation of an above e:round 24 foot pool, thus reuuestine: a variance of 2 feet. The property is located on 6 Barbara Drive and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6158-02- 835813 in the Town of Wappinger. ~ Present: Mr. Lehigh: Mrs. Roberti: Mrs. Popow: Mr. diPiemo: ....... Mrs. Popow: Mr. Fanuele: Mrs. Popow: Mr. Lehigh: Mrs. Popow: Mr. Lehigh: Mrs. Popow: Mr. Fanuele: Mrs. Popow: ....... Christine Popow Are the mailings in order? Yes. My name is Christine Popow and I reside at 6 Barbara Drive. We are putting in a pool in our rear yard and we would like to place it in such a way not to be near our steps that come down off of our deck. Is this correct that you have 80 feet from the rear of the yard to the pool? Yes. Its very wet and swampy back there. Is your septic in the front of your house? Yes. Let the record show that we did a site visit on this on March 29, 2003. You could really move this 2 feet. But we would like to landscape around the pool to make it look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Your not going to put a deck around it? Not at this time. Is the fence yours? I believe so, it came with the house 12 years ago. Page 3 Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals "'- Mr. Lehigh: Mr. Fanuele: Mr. Warren: Vote: Mr. Fanuele: Mr. Warren: Roll Call: Mr. Lehigh: Minutes of April 8, 2003 Does anyone in the audience have any comments? Hearing none. Motion to close the public hearing. Second the motion. All present voted aye. Motion to grant the variance. Second the motion. Mr. Warren: Aye. Mr. diPierno: Aye. Mr. Fanuele: Aye. Mr. Lehigh: Aye. Your variance has been granted, you can check with Barbara in the mornmg. Appeal No. 03-7161 Hettine:er/Fernwood Floral -Seeking an Interpretation following the determination of the Zoning Administrator, dated March 7, 2003 regarding Section 240-16 (c) 3 and its applicability to the proposed use as a florist shop versus its current use as a copy center. The property is located on 51 Mvers Corners Road and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6157-02-899988 in the Town of Wappinger. "'- Present: "'- Helen Hettinger Rocco Trenkler J on Adams Richard Canter Mr. Cantor had a transcriber present to take the minutes for the Hettinger/Fernwood Floral Interpretation. Mr. Cantor informed the ZBA that he would have a copy of the transcribed minutes forwarded to the Town of Wappinger for the board's consideration. For the record. the public hearinz was ad;ourned to Avril 22.2003. Page 4 Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals .... Minutes of April 8, 2003 Appeal No. 03-7163 Ann Marie Haley -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. _ Where a side yard setback of 20 feet is req uired, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 10 feet for the construction of a two-car earaee and addition, thus requestine a variance of 10 feet. The property is located on 149 Chelsea Road and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6056-04- 550488 in the Town of Wappinger. Present: Mr. Haley: Mr. Lehigh: Mr. Haley: ......... Mr. Fanuele: Mr. Haley: Mr. Fanuele: Mr. Haley: Mr. Lehigh: Mr. Haley: Mr. Lehigh: Mr. Haley: ......... Brian Haley Brian Haley, 149 Chelsea Road, husband of Ann Marie Haley. We are looking for a variance for a side yard setback to fit a two car garage where the existing one car garage is. There is a 100 year old oak tree on the side of the driveway. The existing patio will become the stairs in the garage. So the topography of the lot is dictating this? Yes. The patio is going to stay the same? No, it will become the stairs to the first level. Will the garage be attachcd to the house? Yes. May I come up and show you the drawings to the house so you can get a visual? Yes, come up. Oh, so this will be the garage now. So you need a 10 foot variance? Yes. There's also a stream over here. Alright we will come out Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and we will set your public hearing for April 22,2003. Thank you. Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals Page 5 Minutes of April 8, 2003 ....... Appeal No. 03-7164 William H. Cole -Seeking an area variance of Section 240-37 of District Regulations in an R-20 Zoning District. _ Where a side yard setback of 25 feet is req uired, the applicant is proposing a side yard setback of 16 feet for the construction of a shed, thus reQuestiDl! a variance of 9 feet. The property is located on 6 Martin Drive and is identified as Tax Grid No. 6258-02- 951969 in the Town of Wappinger. Pesent: William Cole Mr. Lehigh: Are you building this shed'? Mr. Cole: No, it's a pre-fab and its sitting there already. Mr. Lehigh: Is this the location on your plot plan and how big is the shed? Mr. Cole: Yes its there and its 12 X 20 feet. There's no foundation under it and I placed it there because of my gas lines. Mr. Warren: What will you be storing'! Mr. Cole: Lawn tractor and other yard tools. ....... Mr. Lehigh: We will do a site visit at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Mr. Cole: I have stakes with flags so you can see the property line. Mr. Lehigh: We will set your public hearing for April 22, 2003. Mr. Cole: Thank you very much. Mr. diPierno: Motion to adjourn. Mr. Warren: Second the motion. Vote: All present voted aye. Meeting ended at 8:45 PM Respectfully Submitted, . .1:tddUl- /PIeHl' ~~ra Roberti, Secretary Secretary - Zoning Board of Appeals ......... 1 ......... STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF DUTCHESS TOWN OF WAPPINGERS ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - - - - - - - - - - - - - X In the Matter of: MINUTES APPROVED APR ~. ,'! 2003 HETTINGER/FERNWOOD FLORAL Seeking Interpretation Section 240-16(c)-3 - - - - - - - - - - X DATED: April 8, 2003 Town of Wappingers Falls, New York 7:30 p.m. Patrick M. DeGiorgio, Reporter ....... TOWN OF WAPPINGERS ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING MINUTES (HETTINGER/FERNWOOD FLORAL) ......... Mary T. Babiarz Court Reporting Service 11 Market St., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12601 (845) 471-2511 1 "-" 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ~ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "-" 25 2 APPEARANCES: Zoninq Board Members: Alan C. Lehigh, Chairman Gerald diPierno, Board Member Douglas Warren, Board Member Victor L. Fanuele, Board Member Barbara Roberti, Secretary TEAHAN & CONSTANTINO Attorneys for SALVATORE & REGINA PACE 2780 South Road P.O. Box 1969 Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 BY: RICHARD CANTOR, ESQ., of Counsel CORBALLY, GARTLAND & RAPPLEYEA Attorneys for HETTINGER/FERNWOOD FLORAL 35 Market Street Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 BY: JON H. ADAMS, ESQ., of Counsel Also Present: ALBERT P. ROBERTS, ESQ. Town of Wappingers Attorney '-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 '-' '-' PROCEEDINGS CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: 3 Next item on the agenda, public hearing, Appeal Number 03-7161. Hettinger/ Fernwood Floral seeking an interpretation of the following determination of the Zoning Administrator, dated March 7th, 2003, regarding Section 240-16(c)-3 and its applicability to the proposed use of a florist shop versus its current use as a copy center. The property is located at 51 Myers Corners Road and identified as Tax Grid Number 6157-02-899988 in the Town of Wappingers. Need a motion to open the public hearing. MR. FANUELE: So moved. MR. WARREN: Second. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: All in favor? MR. FANUELE: Aye. MR. WARREN: Aye. '-" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 l4 l5 l6 l7 l8 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ...... '-" PROCEEDINGS 4 MR. DIPIERNO: Aye. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Mrs. Hettinger, Jon. MR. ADAMS: Good evening, Mr. Chairman. My name is Jon Adams. I'm speaking on behalf of the applicant, although the applicant will supplement my testimony. Before I start I want to hand the secretary and to the Board some documents that I'm going to reference during the course of my presentation. I don't have sets for everybody, but perhaps if some are shared, I have two sets here I could give to the Board. (Documents submitted) MR. ADAMS: I've also provided a copy of these documents to Mr. Cantor who is representing one of the adjacent property owners. There's two issues, Mr. Chairman, before you tonight. One whether or not a legal non-conforming use exists which I want -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ...... ....... PROCEEDINGS to address first and Helen will supplement 5 my comments with some history. And then whether or not the use that is proposed, that is to say a florist, constitutes under the language of your zoning law is to be prohibited. The first zoning law as we understand it in the Town of Wappingers was about 1966. My objective with some of the documents that I've submitted to you tonight is to trace a history of the property. In 1966 the property was used as a Normandy Rotisso-Mat. One of the documents -- in fact, I might inquire were any of the members of the Board in the area in 1966? MR. FANUELE: Yes. MR. ADAMS: Victor may recall, there was a retail store for what I'll call barbecue chicken and barbecue ribs at this location. That use continued from 1966 until the early 1970s. Helen will give you a few more '-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 .~ "-" details. PROCEEDINGS 1970 you have a date in the files, 6 the operator of that restaurant, Francis Bisom, B-I-S-O-M, sold the premises -- ( interrupted) MR. CANTOR: Mr. Chairman, may I be heard just for one moment? Is Mr. Adams testifying as a witness that he knows the information that he's reciting? MR. ADAMS: No, I'm not testifying as a personal witness. I'm describing the personal Mr. Fanuele has already indicated, history. I believe, his awareness of that circumstance. MR. CANTOR: I believe, to be accurate for the record, he indicated he was here in the year of your question, that's all you asked of him. I just wanted to be clear that you're not testify as a witness based on your knowledge? MR. ADAMS: That's correct. I'm just giving an .~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ......... ........ PROCEEDINGS outline In the context that the Board could 7 consider, nothing more. 1970 as indicated by deed, again in your package, Mr. Bisom sold the premises to Robert Hettinger. Mr. Hettinger is the principal, I believe, in the current business. He initially acquired the property in his individual name. Then you have a second deed that's dated July 1975 where Mr. Hettinger transferred the property to R.B. Hettinger, Inc. which is simply a corporate entity used by the Hettingers for ownership and operation of the business at this site. Now, at this time I'd ask that you permit Helen Hettinger to give a brief description of the history of the parcel as she knows it during that period of time. Including a description of a current use of the premises and current activities. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: First, Helen, would you just state your name and tell us what you want to do with the interpretation. Get that on the '"'" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ....... "-" PROCEEDINGS 8 record. MS. HETTINGER: I'm Helen Hettinger. I'm trying to get an occupancy permit so I can sell it to Fernwood Florist. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Okay. MR. CANTOR: Mr. Chairman, might I request procedurally that the witness can be sworn. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We can do that. MR. ADAMS: Can I add that that's not a practice and this board has established practice and procedures. If, in fact, it's the normal custom and practice I would ask that you not do it. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We normally don't do that. MR. ROBERTS: This is going to be a contested proceeding, Jon, and we don/t really have contested proceedings I so I don/t see why ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 .~ ~ PROCEEDINGS 9 the witness can't be sworn. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'll defer to the town's attorney. MR. ROBERTS: Raise your right hand. 000 HELEN HETTINGER, the Applicant herein, after having been first duly sworn by a Notary Public of the State of New York, was examined and testified as follows: 000 CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Okay, go ahead. THE WITNESS: Where was 17 I'm trying to sell it to Fernwood Florist. I know that the Normandy went from the Golding Farm which Mrs. Pace lives in now. Mr. Golding sold it to the Bisoms, I believe in '56, and then Bob and I bought it as a working restaurant. Actually when we bought it we were trying to help his brother out who had been in the service for twenty-two years and then his brother took it for two weeks and decided that he '- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ........ .--... PROCEEDINGS couldn't take people so Bob and I ran H.P. in Poughkeepsie and Normandy at the same time. 10 MR. ADAMS: Since then how would you use the premises? THE WITNESS: H.B. Office Products. We service and sales of office machines, stationery, anything to do with the -- the town was one of my customers at one time. MR. ADAMS: Has that activity been continuous -- ( interrupted) MS. HETTINGER: Yes. MR. ADAMS: since the time you purchased the premises in 1970? THE WITNESS: I'd say so. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'd like to put in the minutes that we received a letter from Mr. Cantor to issue a .......... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ....... ....... PROCEEDINGS subpoena of your records which we did. have copies of them. I haven't looked at them. I'd like to get that on the record. I'd also like to ask you some questions. your partner here? MS. HETTINGER: Yes, sir. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Sir, state your name? MR. TRENKLE: My name is Rocco Trenkle and I'm president of - - (interrupted) CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: What I'd like to do is (interrupted) MR. CANTOR: Mr. Chairman, if he could spell his name for the stenographer MR. TRENKLE: T-R-E-N-K-L-E. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Rocco is R-O-C-C-O. Mr. Roberts, could you swear him in also? 11 We Is ........ ..... "-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 12 000 ROCCO TRENKLE, the Applicant herein, after having been first duly sworn by a Notary Public of the State of New York, was examined and testified as follows: 000 CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I got a couple questions here. Whether the building's appearance or structure is going to change when you assume the business? MR. TRENKLE: I haven't really reached that -- I haven't gotten to that point. We can't seem to get to a point whether we can purchase or not purchase the building, so I haven't even looked into the details. Are we moving or changing the facade? I'm sure if that occurs I'll be here before you and I'll be asking you if we can do so. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'm looking at really is there any major changes that you're going to make in that building? In other words, additions on ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ~ ........ PROCEEDINGS it or anything else? MR. TRENKLE: 13 No. MR. ADAMS: You are talking about structural changes? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Yes. MR. TRENKLE: No. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Will there be an increase in occupants in the building, clientele more than there is at this present time? MR. TRENKLE: I think we appeared before you one other time stating that there are people that come off the street to buy flowers, but that's very limited. Most of our sales are done by phone. I'd say if we had to calculate from a percentile basis the phone business is 90 percent and walk-in trade is 10 and it might not even be that much. I'd assume around holidays that might change a ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ~ ........... PROCEEDINGS 14 little bit, there might be a little bit more activity, yes. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: The prior testimony was for a varlance and that is not what's in front of us. The testimony is on the interpretation tonight. Anything else that we've heard before is gone by the boards. This is a completely new entity here. Will the essential character of the prior uses, is that going to change? Helen you are in retail now, you are strictly retail. MS. HETTINGER: Retail, right. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: That's going to stay the same? MR. TRENKLE: Exactly. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Is the new use incident to the prior use or is it an entirely new use? By that I mean retailwise is what I'm talking about. MR. TRENKLE: I would say they are pretty ....... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ~ ~ PROCEEDINGS 15 simultaneous in what she does. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Similar? MR. TRENKLE: We make sales and we make deliveries. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: That's all I've got. Anybody else have any questions? MR. DIPIERNO: No. MR. FANUELE: No. MR. WARREN: No. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: All right. Have you anything else you would like to add? MR. ADAMS: Yes, Mr. Chairman. First I'd like to draw the Board's attention to another letter I submitted which is a letter of the building inspector dated April 7th, 1992. I think it's in the package I gave you which he offers the opinion as this building in ....... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ...... ,.....,.., PROCEEDINGS 16 1992 was a legal non-conforming use. I offer that for the record. I also offer for the record, and Richard 1'11 get you a copy, 1'11 give this to Barbara, this is the assessor's card showing the ownership of the property to corroborate the documents that exist. Now, the second issue, there's two issues. One issue is, of course, whether the valid use exists. The second issue can this use be accomplished under the standards of your zoning laws as it relates to non-conforming uses? Our answer is yes. There's a legal reason and 1'11 make a legal argument why it's my belief from a legal perspective that the uses outlined by the speakers may be occasioned without violating the Section 210-16 of the zoning law. The question that/s necessarily invited by this application is what is a use and is that use being changed? The first question invited is was the use for the purposes of this section? The answer is simple. You use your own zoning ordinance "-" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ,.... .'-- PROCEEDINGS for purposes of understanding what is permitted. Your zoning ordinance has under its scheduled uses what I!m going to call 17 classes of uses. One of those classes of uses is retail use. She has testified that the use is a retail use. He!s testified that the proposed new use is a retail use. That!s why it!s my contention you have to look for your zoning ordinances! look at what are the permitted uses! unlike zoning ordinances in other towns you don!t say bakeries! canned goods! dog kennels! whatever! you don!t have specific uses In your zoning law. I!ll use a generic term! retail uses. It!s my contention that once you use that term in the scheduled uses the term also has to be used in this construing this particular position. straightforward language. It!s fairly It!s our contention you have to use your own language to construe Section 210-16 which addresses the standards for change of use or non-conforming uses. ""'" --.. ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 18 I have no other comments. Is there anything else you would like to saYI Helen? MS. HETTINGER: Not at this time. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I would like to state that with the subpoena we did receive a copy of your federal income taxI telephone billl state sales tax and corporate insurance. There were some other bills and so forth that were too numerous for this Board to go over. I I d also like to show in the minutes that you mailed out four cards and received back only two green cards. MS. HETTINGER: Correct. MR. ROBERTS: Could you identify theml Mr. Chairman? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We received one back from Mrs. Pace. MR. ROBERTS: Why don/t you identify who they were mailed to and those that you received the returns. ........ .... ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: 19 Mr. and Mrs. Pace. MR. ROBERTS: Address? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We received that back. This one was mailed to RJS Holding and we don't have that one. This one was I can't read it, Mr. and Mrs. Camacho. Is that one we received back? I can't read that very well either. MS. HETTINGER: Mr. and Mrs. Camacho did not return any of the gentleman, JM -- the holding one. The only one that answered was the Town of Wappingers and Mrs. Pace. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: All right. The record agrees with that. MR. ADAMS: Do the records also reflect the date of mailing so we can ascertain that they were timely mailed? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: It was mailed 3/27/03. ........ ~ --.. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 20 MR. ROBERTS: Which one? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: They are all marked the same. MR. ROBERTS: All right. MS. HETTINGER: All at the same time. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: All the same dater 3/27/03r this year. MR. ROBERTS: Do you have an Affidavit of publication of the legal notices? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Yesr I do. Right there (indicating). MR. ROBERTS: Date of that? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: The date of that? MR. ROBERTS: Yesr date of publication. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Date of publication 4/2/03r Southern Dutchess News on 4/2/03. Any questions? ....... "-'" .~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 21 Gentlemen? MR. DIPIERNO: No. MR. FANUELE: No. MR. WARREN: No. MS. CAMACHO: I am present, Mrs. Deborah Camacho. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'll open it up ln a minute and you can speak. You can take your seat and we will hear from Mr. Cantor. MR. CANTOR: If Mrs. Camacho would like to go as a courtesy, she is welcome to go first. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Mrs. Camacho. Mr. Cantor is allowing you to go ahead of him. MS. CAMACHO: Thank you. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Do I have to be sworn? Yes. Mr. Roberts will swear you in. 000 ....... ..... .~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS DEBORAH CAMACHO, after having been first duly sworn by a Notary Public of the State of New York, was examined and testified as follows: 22 000 MS. CAMACHO: My name is Deborah Camacho. I live at 49 Myers Corners Road. What I want to know, if this property is zoned residential, then what's the problem? Why are they going ahead with commercial, zoning it as commercial property? I'm confused. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We are not zoning it as commercial It is already commercial property. property. MS. CAMACHO: No. I was told it was zoned residential. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: The zone its in is residential, yes. The zone it's in. It's non-conforming. MR. ROBERTS: If you have comments about that, ,.., ~ ,.., 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 23 you're asking questions, they are here to listen to your comments, not necessarily give answers. MS. CAMACHO: Thank you. MR. ROBERTS: Any other comments before you leave? MS. CAMACHO: I do have a comment and a complaint about the owner of H.B. properties. I've tried to be neighborly with her and I have complained on two occasions about motorcycles that actually are back there during the spring and summer months doing work with their motorcycles. They have no concern about the people who live in the area. They will stand right in front of my property and rev up their motorcycles and I have told them to stop. it. I've told her about CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Can I suggest that it might not be Mrs. Hettinger. I can't quite see her on a motorcycle. ........ ...... .......... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 24 MS. CAMACHO: It's not Mrs. Hettinger, but she says she knows who they are and they were given permission to use the property behind her and I've gotten faxes from the sheriff's department about that because I've made three complaints. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Well, you're complaining to the right place. MS. CAMACHO: But they are not doing anything about it. They claim since she is the owner and they have permission that they can be there. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'd have to ask her that. I don't have any knowledge of that at all. We aren't really here to take that into consideration. MS. CAMACHO: Okay. My complaint is that if there are -- if they are going to have a florist right now there's a lot of junk behind her, a lot of junk that is sitting ....... ........ ..,..... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 25 behind the property. I have taken pictures of that and I'm not ashamed to say it, but I don't think that since this is zoned residential, why should we as owners of homes that are all around her have to put up with that? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I really don't know how to answer that because I'm not in the business of taking complaints and handling those. Do you understand what I mean? I don't know whether it was on Hettinger's property or not. Sir, if you have a problem you can get up here and state your name. Otherwise, if you quit your signals back there I'd appreciate it or just leave. MS. CAMACHO: Then also my concern is that if we are going to have a florist I don't want a lot of traffic there, going in and out and also - - (interrupted) CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: That's a valid comment on this case. MS. CAMACHO: ~ ....... .~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS And also all the dumping. 26 Since I've lived there, only two years, I've had car accidents because of the road and all the traffic that there is already two people have come into my property with their cars, accidents. We have two trees down and something just happened yesterday and there are cars also in the evening that stay there. I don't know what they are doing therel but I call the sheriff/s departmentl they come and they have them removed. has happened a lot. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Anything else? MS. CAMACHO: This No. Those are my concerns because I do live in a residential area and my intent was to move from the city to a place where I could raise my son and not have to worry about whose hanging out in the back of the property when they have nothing to do with the company itself. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Thank you. .......... ....... ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 27 MS. CAMACHO: You're welcome. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Mr. Cantor. MR. CANTOR: Good evening. For the record, I'm Richard Cantor with the firm Teahan & Constantino. I represent Regina and Salvatore Pace who are the immediate next door neighbors. witness? May I ask questions of the CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Normally you direct them up here. That's normally the way we handle it. MR. CANTOR: She has been subpoenaed to be here and there is information I would like to elicit which hasn't been asked. I believe that it's appropriate to be allowed to question the witness. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Okay. MR. CANTOR: May the record reflect Mrs. Hettinger ....... ...... "'-'" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 28 remains under oath. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Yes. CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. CANTOR: Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Did I understand you to say that your husband initially purchased this property in 1970? My husband and myself -- my ex-husband. Robert B. Hettinger? Yes. Do I understand you to say that at the time you purchased the property the property was a store that sold barbecue chicken? As it is, yes. When you purchased the property did you continue that use? Yes, sir. For how long did you continue that use? About a year, year and a half because we had H.P. in poughkeepsie. We ran the Normandy too with three small kids. After that year, year and a half, what use did you put the property to? To H.P. '-'"' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ........ ......... Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. PROCEEDINGS Office product business? Yes. When you put the property to the office products business did you obtain any approval from the Town of Wappingers for changing the use from chicken store to -- ( interrupted) Yes. -- an office use? 29 Yes. What form of approval did you receive? We were approved. By whom were you approved? Whoever we went in front of. Probably the same thing I've been doing for the last seven years. Do you have with you any evidence of such an approval? I don't think I would have been in business for thirty-five years if I didn't get approval. I don't know about that. ( interrupted) Do I have it on me? No. The question is I've given you ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ~ ~ Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. PROCEEDINGS 30 records to prove I've been in business and having for thirty-five years. It would be easier for you to prove I've not been In business for thirty-five years. MR. ADAMS: Answer the question. THE WITNESS: I've answered it. Do you have evidence at home or in your office of your approval that you received? You mean when we went into business in 1970? When you changed -- you said that you changed the use from a store that sold chicken to an office sales and service function? That's correct. My question was did you receive approval from the town for that change? Yes. You said yes? Yes. I'm asking you whether you have? Not in my back packet. Do you have it in your home or in your "'-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 '-'" '-'" A. A. Q. A. Q. PROCEEDINGS 31 office? Of course. Mr. Cantor! I wouldn't be in the store. MR. ADAMS: Helen! answer the question. simple. Yes. Make it MR. CANTOR: I would ask that after or otherwise done this evening that this hearing be continued and Mrs. Hettinger be asked to produce that approval under the terms of the subpoena that you issued she was asked. That approval was within the scope of the subpoena and we are entitled to see what approval she claims that she received from the Town of Wappingers for changing the use as described. Am I correct! Mrs. Hettinger! that the H.B. use was both a sales and service business? That!s right. And is it correct that at some point in time you rented a portion of the building to a copy business? .......... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ~ "-" A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. A. Yes. PROCEEDINGS To help Nick out. 32 Excuse me? To help the gentleman out. Was it correct that business was service copying machines? Yes. Office machines. Office machines? Same as myself. When did that business come into the building approximately? About eight years ago. And is it still there? No. When did it leave approximately? Approximately they needed more space and they moved up to Hark Plaza and that's about six months ago. So for approximately seven and a half years a portion of the building was used by a company that serviced office equipment? Same as us, yes. MR. CANTOR: Thank you. Might I add one thing? ..... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ....... ~ PROCEEDINGS 33 MR. ADAMS: No. MR. CANTOR: That's up to the Board. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I don't think we need to hear anymore. MR. CANTOR: I'm handing up the original to Miss Roberti and copies for the members of the written concerns of the matter before you. I'd like to note for the record and I apologize of the four exhibits, the exhibits marked Band C regrettably are inverted so that the one marked B is really C and the one marked C is really B. that confusion. I apologize for MR. ADAMS: Exhibits Band C are transposed? MR. CANTOR: Right. The one marked B should really be marked C and vice versa. I would like to be heard in opposition to this application. The first ground of opposition is that this application should ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 '-- '-" PROCEEDINGS be denied because these applicants do not 34 have standing to make this application. The applicants on the application are identified as H.B. Office Products/Fernwood Floral Gardens. Neither of these applicants are the owner the property. The owner of the property as Mr. Adams indicated in the deeds he gave to you and a copy of that deed is also annexed to this letter is a corporation known as R.B. Hettinger, Inc. and based on the materials in the town's records, the president of that corporation is Robert Hettinger. That's the one marked Exhibit C although it should be properly marked B. You have nothing before you from the owner of the property authorizing this application, so the first ground of objection is that this application is without standing. As a second ground of opposition, there is a provision in your zoning code and I refer to that starting in the lower half of the second page of the letter, Section 240-16, which requires that during the first ..... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 '-' ...... PROCEEDINGS 35 one year following the effective date of this zoning law on which of the zoning law the owners of the property in which there is a nonresidential non-conforming use are required to make a filing with the zoning administrator containing a statement of such non-conforming use. lIve previously obtained copies of materials in the town/s file and there is no such filing that was made. This sectionl if you turn to page 3 of the letter I same section then goes onto say if the non-conforming -- if the owner of the non-conforming use shall not so register itl such use shall be presumed to have been discontinued unless the owner submits proof that the use existed legally prior to the effective date of the regulation that made it non-conforming. There is right here as we stand a presumption created by your zoning code that this use terminated without regard to what Mrs. Hettinger did or didn/t do on the property by reason of the failure to make that filing within one year. In factI it ....... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ........ ........ PROCEEDINGS 36 hasn't been made at all. And you do not have any proof before you that the use -- that she is describing, her office sales and services or any other non-conforming use existed legally prior to the effective date of the regulation that made it non-conforming. The regulation that made it non-conforming was the adoption of residential zoning for this property. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Which is 63. MR. CANTOR: So by your own zoning code you're compelled to conclude based on this presumption that this use has discontinued in the absence of proof that satisfies this section. Finally, I wish to address the issue of the actual use. Mr. Chairman, you stated when you were speaking with Mrs. Hettinger something to the effect that you are retail. Well, that's not correct. Mrs. Hettinger's statement was that her business was retail and service. ...... "Iiir ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS The exhibit marked Exhibit B that should be marked Exhibit C is a piece of your determination on the variance application that was previously decided, and in there the Board states the most recent use of the property is both a retail sales and service use and you also say in that decision that service use includes a copy 37 center. So it's not correct as you stated, Mr. Chairman, to say you're retail; right? The use is a combination, assuming it exists, is a combination of retail use and service use and the tenant in the building for seven and a half years serviced office machines, just service use. Well, a florist who sells flowers, presumably delivers flowers, isntt a service business. It doesntt service office equipment and it doesntt sell or service stationery or other office supplies as Mrs. Hettinger testified is the business of H.B. Office Products. Mr. Adamst I believe, is correct in reciting the prohibition under your lawt that is that a non-conforming use can be ...... '-' ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS changed only to a conforming use and that there is a prohibition against changing a non-conforming use to another non-conforming 38 use. I take issue, however, with Mr. Adams when he states that a florist which is a retail use is the same as a use which services office equipment and the use which sells and services stationery and office products. I think that Mr. Adams' statement to you is directly contrary to the case law which we cite in this letter which states 11 in the absence of an ordinance to the contrary, a property owner has no right to substitute a new non-conforming use for an existing non-conforming use despite the generic similarity of the uses." So that even if you would say retail, retail, they are generically similar, the cases say that's not enough to change a non-conforming use, that generic similarity is not enough, and secondly as has been established by your own prior decision and by the testimony, the Hettinger -- the use of the R.B. Hettinger property is a use, if it continues, that is ...... '-' ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 39 a combination on the H.B. Office side of retail and service and on the copy side purely service. That is not the same as a florist. Itrs not the same as retail to retail. Even if it were the same as retail to retail under the casesr thatrs not enough. So pick anyone of those reasons and this is a proposed change from one non-conforming user assuming it is a non-conforming user to a different non-conforming use and that is prohibited under your code. The cases that we citer and maybe I can stater and this is true for the Town of Wappingers as wellr that courts and municipal legislators have adoptedr and this is a quoter "a grudging tolerance of non-conforming uses." Non-conforming uses the courts held are generally viewed as detrimental to a zoning scheme and they also noted that the overriding public policy of zoning in New York State is aimed at the reasonable restriction of these uses and the eventual elimination of these uses. He re' we ... ...... ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 40 have heard that we went from a chicken store to retail and service. Again I ask this to be continued for this claim proof of approval, because I've pulled the minutes of the town when we were hearing the variance and there is no such approval in the town files. We have gone from chicken store to office service and retail and now we are proposing to go to florist in a situation where your code prohibits a change in which the clear case law is that these uses are given only grudging tolerance and that the clear public policy is to both restrict them and eventually eliminate them. So I would ask that this application be denied for lack of standing. I would ask that it be denied based on the zoning code presumption that had been discontinued and I'd ask that it be denied on the ground that it isn't the same use, that a florist is a different use than an office equipment service business and a retail service and service office business such as R.B. Hettinger. I'd also ask that Mrs. Hettinger ..... '-" ......... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 41 be asked to bring in the proof that she asserts that she has in her possession that shows that her use was permitted for H.B. Hettinger, because if it wasn't permitted then that's another ground on which there is no non-conforming use. If she changed chicken business to office business without approval, office business, even if she has done it for thirty years, is an unlawful use and not a non-conforming use that had the town's approval. Again, there's no indication in the town's files of any such approval for such a switch in use. If she says she has it, we are entitled to see it. Finally, the last point which is not in the letter. If you were to issue the interpretation requested, the change to a florist business under the Wappingers Zoning Code would trigger a need for site plan approval. Because it would trigger that need, this request for an interpretation is only a piece of the word action, A-C-T-I-O-N, for environmental review purposes, and because it's only a piece of ...... ....... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 '......... PROCEEDINGS 42 the action, before you can validly act you require an Environmental Assessment Form and a hard look. Even though it's correct an interpretation alone would not require an environmental review. This isn't an interpretation alone, this is the first half of what would be, if you granted it, a two- piece application and under SEQRA terminology, under SEQRA terminology it's one action and this one action needs environmental review. So for all or any of those reasons I would request that this application be denied. Before the meeting began the stenographer indicated that the normal turn around time for the transcript is approximately two weeks. I raised the question, Mr. Chairman, as to what I indicated that we would supply a copy to the of the transcript to the Board and I'd be pleased to provide a courtesy copy to Mr. Adams. I raise the question whether you wanted that transcript before you were to make a decision, and if that were the case, "-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "-' ."llIr PROCEEDINGS 43 whether the two week turn around time suffices. Just as a procedural and courtesy matter I raise that question. Perhaps Mr. Roberts might be of help in letting you know whether in his opinion it would be helpful to have that transcript before you make any decisions and if so whether the approximate two-week turn around time is adequate. Thank you. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Thank you. I'm going to take a five- minute recess. MR. ADAMS: I'd like to make a brief rebuttal. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'd rather have your rebuttal first. MR. ADAMS: For housekeeping purposes of standing, I'd ask Mrs. Hettinger to come up. She is still under oath. I believe this application -- I didn't prepare the application, but the application should be in the corporate name. If it's not in the corporate name I'd asked that it be amended ........ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ........ "--' PROCEEDINGS 44 for that purpose and ask whether or not she is a corporate officer of R.B. Hettinger Inc. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: It doesn't say that, it's H.B. office. MS. HETTINGER: Vice-president and secretary of H.B. MR. ADAMS: Thank you. Addressing the second issue in terms of the registration, Mr. Cantor indicated and correctly so -- it only creates a presumption. We believe we rebutted that presumption. Presumption is not conclusive. It simply creates something that unless they find it stands on its own. Mrs. Hettinger has testified, she has admitted a wealth of information to you and I believe the Board has sufficient information if they want to consider that in rebuttal. I don't believe registration is an appropriate argument although I understand the argument. On the SEQRA issue, this is an action and the language of those regulations, if, 1 ........ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ~ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 '-"" 25 PROCEEDINGS 45 In fact, I would argue she would not concede she needs -- I'm sorry, the new occupant would need site plan approval, but if, in fact, that was the circumstance that an environmental review would take place at the time that the application is made. There are two different types of environmental review. There's coordinated and uncoordinated. This is an unlisted action. There's no mandatory coordination. I believe it's my belief the Board can go with an interpretation without an environmental review before making a determination. On the issue of retail sales, you have testimony in that and I'll defer to the Board's interpretation of law with respect to that. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Let me ask, does anybody else in the audience wish to speak? I'm going to take a five-minute break with some legal questions for our attorney and we will come back. (SHORT RECESS TAKEN) ....... ......... """ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PROCEEDINGS 46 CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We are back. What I'd like to do is adjourn this for two weeks to go over all the material that Mr. Cantor submitted, that Mr. Adams submitted and I'd like to look at the steno minutes and I would like to -- ( interrupted) MR. ROBERTS: Can I clarify that. I thought we were going to adjourn the public hearing for two weeks and hope that the transcript could come in on the two-week date, whatever date that would be. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: That's what Mr. Cantor was talking about. Turn around time is two weeks. MR. CANTOR: You're looking to have the transcript by the adjourned date and delivered? MR. ROBERTS: And delivered that night. MR. CANTOR: The stenographer says yes. ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ........ ~ PROCEEDINGS CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: I'd like to ask Mrs. Hettinger if she would give us some proof that the business was changed to the town in 1970, I believe, from chicken to Hettinger, Inc. MS. HETTINGER: 47 Yeah, it was before the Zoning Board, Mr. Lehigh. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: If you could give us whatever proof you have on that and we will reconvene this on the 22nd and we will go from there. MR. CANTOR: That would be at 7:30 again, Mr. Lehigh? CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Yes, that's the regular meeting date, the 22nd, I believe. I need a motion to adjourn this to the 22nd. MR. DIPIERNO: So moved. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: Second? MR. WARREN: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ........ 1 3 ....... ....... PROCEEDINGS 48 Second. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: All in favor? MR. FANUELE: Aye. MR. WARREN: Aye. MR. DIPIERNO: Aye. CHAIRMAN LEHIGH: We will see you again on the 22nd. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 . ..... 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ~ 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 """" 25 49 STATE OF NEW YORK ss: COUNTY OF ORANGE II PATRICK M. DeGIORGIOI a Shorthand Reporter and Notary Public within and for the State of New Yorkl do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate record of the minutes having been stenographically recorded by me and transcribed under my supervision to the best of my knowledge and belief. x f~~ PATRICK M. DeGIORGIO Dated: April 211 2003