1994-05-24Town of Wappinger
*,,,,May 24, 1994
Agenda - 7:30 P.M.
Zoning Board of Appeals
Approval of the March 22nd and April 26th minutes.
..V
Town Hall
20 Middlebush Road
Wappinger Falls, N.Y.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Appeal #1166 - At the request of 7 - Eleven Stores / Northeast Div.
which are seeking a variance from Article IV, Section 416.62 of the
Town of Wappinger Zoning Law (sign law) where you are required to
maintain 25 square feet of signage and you are showing 49.8 square
feet, requiring a 24.8 square foot variance. The property is located
at the intersection of Route 9 and Old Hopewell Road and identified as
Tax Grid #19-6157-02-614569-00 in the Town of Wappinger in accordance
with map depicting proposed sign location dated March 17, 1994 and
prepared by Gray, Railing & Heinsman, Engineering & Surveying, P.C..
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance
for this project on April 26, 1994.
2. Appeal #1167 - At the request of Robert & Antonette Monte who are
seeking a variance of Article IV, Section 412 of the Town of Wappinger
*... Zoning Law to allow the issuance of a building permit on a lot which
does not have legal frontage on a Town Road on property located on
Myers Corners Road and identified as Tax Grid #19-6258-02-894596-00 in
the Town of Wappinger.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance
for this project on April 26, 1994.
3. Appeal #1168 - At the request of Philip DiNonno, D/B/A B & B Auto
Specialists, who is seeking two (2) variances from Article IV, Section
422.25 of the Town of Wappinger Zoning Law as follows:
A. Front setback requires 50' and you are showing 401,
requiring a 10' variance;
B. Rear setback requires 50' and you are showing 421,
requiring an 8' variance.
The property is located on Route 9 and Smithtown Road and identified
as Tax Grid #19-6157-04-730008-00 in the Town of Wapppinger.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
.itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance
for this project on April 26, 1994.
En
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Agenda - May 24, 1994
Page 2
4. Appeal #1169 - At the request of Frederick J. Becker, Jr. who is
seeking two (2) variances of Article IV, section 412 of the Town of
Wappinger Zoning Law to allow the issuance of variances on two lots
which do not have legal frontage on a Town Road_
The property is located on the southwest side of Old Ketchamtown Road
and identified as Tax Grid #19-6156-01-317948-00 in the Town of
Wappinger.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance
for this project on April 26, 1994.
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Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of Appeals Town Hall
May 24, 1994 20 Middlebush Road
Minutes Wappinger Falls, N.Y.
'fir►
Members Present
Mr. Sasser: Chairman Mr. Hirkala: Vice Chairman
Mr. Lehigh: Member Mr. Bitterlich: Member
Mr. Prager: Member
APPROVED
Others Present
Herbert J. Levenson, Zoning Administrator Jv:�
Dawn Idema, Secretary to the Z.B.A.
P'iJ11MNNG 80MD
ZONN 90W Of APPS A
Mr. Sasser: I call the May 24, 1994 Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of
Appeals to order. Will the clerk please call the roll?
ROLL CALL
Mr. Levenson: Mr. Chairman, all marked present.
Mr. Lehigh: I make a motion to accept the March 22nd and April 26th
minutes.
Mr. Bitterlich:
Vote: All ayes.
Second.
Mr. Sasser: Both sets of minutes have been approved. The first item on
the agenda tonight is Appeal 41166. At the request of 7 - Eleven Stores /
Northeast Div. which are seeking a variance from Article IV, Section
416.62 of the Town of Wappinger Zoning Law (sign law) where you are
required to maintain 25 square feet of signage and you are showing 49.8
square feet, requiring a 24.8 square foot variance. The proposed property
is located at the intersection of Route 9 and old Hopewell Road and
identified as Tax Grid #19-6157-02-614569-00 in the Town of Wappinger in
accordance with map depicting proposed sign location dated March 17, 1994
and prepared by Gray, Railing & Heinsman, Engineering & Surveying, P.C..
Please take further notice, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance for
this project on April 26, 1994. Do we have proof of publication?
Mr. Levenson: Yes, we have proof of publication on all of the cases
pending before this Board tonight.
Mr. Sasser: Is there someone here from 7 - Eleven?
Mr. Adams: Mike Tackas and myself.
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 2
%ow Mr. Hirkala: I make a motion to open the public hearing.
Mr. Lehigh: Second.
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Adams: 7 - Eleven is requesting two variances. The first one is a
height variance. The ordinance limits the height of signs to ten (10)
feet, we are requesting twenty (20) feet. The current sign, another
reason why I gave you that picture, is actually taller than the sign that
we proposed to put in place, six inches or so. Never the less, it is
relevant if you want to take the scale of the existing sign that they
measured in comparison, we are actually coming down a little. We are not
going up any higher.
Mr. Sasser: How much are you coming down?
Mr. Tackas: 8/10's of a foot.
Mr. Sasser: How much is 8/10's of a foot?
Mr. Tacas: About 711.
Mr. Adams: Additionally, we are requesting a variance in terms of the
size of the sign. The factor that makes our sign larger here is the
informational portion of the sign. If you look at the sign detail you'_i
%aw see that approximately half the size of the sign is allocated to the gas
prices. If that was not there we would be in conformity. As you all
know, we are obligated to despose to the public as well as possible the
current price being charged for gas. We believe that sign is consister_=
with our obligation. The current signs have an aggregated area of 34
square feet. There is, to some extent, an increase if you want to use -he
current situation as a standard comparison. There is an increase here of
16 sq. ft. from the 34 sq. ft.. The sign that we propose to design is a
standard 7 - Eleven sign. It is also somewhat similar to what the Teta-1
industry is doing in the gasoline business. That is to say, I'm sure
you've all seen as you drive up and down Route 9, newer signs of
comparable layout of that size. Obviously, we are in a very compe-�itiv=
business. One of the factors which we have to consider is that our
competitors up and down Route 9 have comparable signs. We are not t_ry-n=
to out -sign them. It is simply to have something that is comparable tc
them. In going through the standards for an area variance which we are
seeking here, the first issue that we have to address is whether or no=
any undesirable changes will be produced in the neighborhood by th-=
variance. I think the sign is compatible with the neighborhood. You =-e
in a commercial neighborhood. You are in a very heavily traveled
corridor. I don't think the sign detracts at all from the neighbc_hoc-_
It is consistent with the character of the neighborhood. I would a] -so
suggest that in considering the sign that you consider not only the si -s
of the Town, but the Village and Fishkill. Route 9 is really one
commercial corridor. There aren't really any big, bold landmarks :s vc-=
,., go from one town to another that says that you are in one town. T e
character of one town is not easily distinguished. The Village, T-,wn =_
Poughkeepsie and the Town of Wappinger all sort of blend together t=_=
you have one consistent character, at least in this portion of Rou--e 9_
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 3
One of the other issues that we have to address is whether or not the size
of the sign will have any adverse impacts on the physical or environmental
conditions of the neighborhood. Again, you have a very well developed
commercial corridor. I think your Negative Declaration shows that you are
confident of that. This is consistent with your interpretation that the
size of the sign will not have any adverse environmental impacts.
Conceivably, we could plan a smaller sign, that is always possible. But
again we don't think it is consistent with what we are trying to obtain at
that location in terms of harmonizing the size of the sign with the other
site improvements that have been recently put in, for instance the canopy.
A sign of this size, that canopy will sort of dwarf a smaller sign. You
need to have some type of compatibility between the two. We believe that
sized sign will achieve that compatibility without being offensive in
terms of being excessive in size. The other point I seem to need to make
again is that, actually, when you look at the figures, the existing sign
is acceptable in size. The proposed sign, I think, is more attractive and
will accomplish better our objective. That is, to make it easy for the
traveling motorist to see the price on the sign and make a decision as to
whether or not he wants to pull in or go to another competitors service
station and obtain gas there.
Mr. Bitterlich: How did they get the sign there in the first place?
Mr. Sasser: Did it come from the old station that was there?
Mr. Levenson: It predates the existing sign ordinance.
`ftwl
Mr. Bitterlich: How much bigger is this new sign than the one that is
there?
Mr. Sasser: 34 sq. ft. vs. 49 sq. ft.. It is 7" less in height.
Mr. Lehigh: Do you feel you have to advertise that 7 - Eleven along with
the gas prices even though you have a rather large 7 - Eleven sign that is
on the face of the building that can be well seen from Route 9?
Mr. Adams: We want the gas prices to be linked with the ....
Mr. Lehigh: Well, I go by it everyday and see the gas prices with the
sign that is there, existing. I have no problem telling what the prices
are. I don't know why we have to advertise 7 - Eleven again with a big
high sign like that.
Mr. Sasser: What were the other changes that took place when you did t---e=-
remodeling
_=remodeling there? You put the canopy in.
Mr. Tackas: We put in the canopy, islands and new lighting.
Mr. Sasser: Is there any other signage that went out there? Any new
signage?
Mr. Levenson: No.
r`,
Mr. Sasser: Nothing on the canopy?
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 4
- Mr. Levenson: No.
Mr. Sasser: The canopy is only colors. It doesn't say 7 - Eleven.on it.
Mr. Levenson: It is only colors_
Mr. Adams: Actually, the canopy somewhat obscures the store.
Mr. Hirkala: How are we handling those canopies now?
Mr. Tackas: They are permitted as of 1989.
Mr. Levenson: The Planning Board permits them by a use.
Mr. Hirkala: There is nothing in the ordinance as far as it being a
structure?
Mr. Levenson: No, but they have to be sprinkled according to the rules
pertaining to gasoline. They are all heavily sprinkled through the
ceiling.
Mr. Hirkala: The reason I am asking that is because we went through that
whole situation with the guy across the street, with the canopy and
everything. I think it was legally non -conforming on setbacks and
everything else. I'm very confused as to how these things are handled
anymore. There is nothing in the ordinance that says anything about them.
Mr. Levenson: The Planning Board is handling it .... necessary
requirements.
Mr. Hirkala: In other words, the Planning Board is allowing it regardless
of whether or not it is in the ordinance_
Mr. Levenson: Within reason. You can't cover the whole place with a
canopy_
Mr. Lehigh: There is a Citco sign on it with a name on the canopy also.
Mr. Hirkala: Which brings me to my next question. Some years back we had
discussed the new requirements of the Federal Government that prices be
posted_
Mr. Levenson: That has to be adopted by the County.
Mr. Hirkala: Was there ever any discussion, to your knowledge, of how it
was going to be handled in our sign ordinance?
Mr. Levenson: No_
Mr. Hirkala: It seems to me that we have gone through .....
Mr. Levenson: The major oil companies are posting signs over ....
Mr. Hirkala: I seem to recall there being some discussion on the post --'ng
of prices and that it was not going to be handled by variances as long as
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 5
I it was on the pumps_
Mr. Levenson:
That is the way
it is.
Getty has signs on it. Mobil has
signs on it.
They have signs
on their
pumps. That is about the only
ones. All of
the pumps on 9D
.... Not
like the ones you have .....
Mr. Hirkala: There is nobody else in the Town
Mr. Levenson: Not like the ones you have at Mobil or ....
Mr. Hirkala: So nobody else in the Town has a sign that advertises the
pricing out on the .....
Mr. Levenson: That is right.
Mr. Sasser: Would anyone in the public like to either speak for or
against this? Let the record show that there was nobody. Does the board
have any further questions?
Mr. Levenson: I would like to make a comment with regard to Mr. Adams's
statement about the conformity of signs in adjacent towns. We worry about
the Town of Wappinger. We don't worry about any other place. You go into
the Village and there is no conformity of signs there at all. Up until
that huge sign at Imperial Plaza was there ..... many times I thought I
would throw a stick of dynamite and ride by and blow it up_
Environmentally signs that big are dangerous to the motorists. They are
driving down the road and looking at the sign and before you know it you
have a pile up. It's happened there, Jon.
Mr. Adams: I would like to see a study that says that Mr. Levenson. I
only illuded to the other municipalities to show that the character of _he
area isn't going to be effected. The character of the area has to be
measured, not by geographical boundaries, but by ....
Mr. Levenson: I can't interject a personal comment that was made by a
relative of mine with regard to the signs in Wappinger and the signs in
Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. That comment is not admissible into the
evidence.
Mr. Sasser: I would just like to make a comment on my opinion. I thin'--
that
hin'-that the canopy is out there and I think when you drive by it you can t.l
that, obviously, gasoline is being sold. I have driven by it several
times since this application has come in and I can easily tell what the
price of the gasoline is. There is a sign, it doesn't say 7 - Eleven, _-
does say Citco. It is almost a 50% increase which I think is a
substantial variance. I think that it is a busy intersection and there
are a lot of signs there and I personally don't feel that this is
necessary. Do we have any further comments? Would someone like to mak= a
motion?
Mr. Hirkala: I make a motion to close the public hearing.
*4W Mr. Bitterlich: Second_
Vote: All ayes.
cm
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 6
'+►Mr. Hirkala: I make a motion to decline the variance based on the
conformity of the structure and the existing signage.
Mr. Sasser: I would like to add my comments into there based on the
worksheets we are using.
Mr. Prager: Second.
Roll call:
Mr. Prager: Nay, yes to deny.
Mr. Bitterlich: Nay_
Mr. Lehigh: I vote against the variance.
Mr. Hirkala: I vote against the variance which is for the
resolution.
Mr. Sasser: Yes.
Mr. Levenson: Mr. Chairman, all vote in favor of denying the variance.
Mr. Sasser: That will be written up and filed with the Town Clerk -
Mr. Adams: Fine. Thank you for your consideration.
Mr. Sasser: You are certainly welcome.
Mr. Bitterlich: Just out of curiosity, they can keep the signs they've
got'?'
Mr. Levenson: Yes, sure.
Mr. Hirkala: The sign they have is based on what the previous ....
Mr. Sasser: On the Shell station ._
Mr. Hirkala: Prior to zoning. It's not as big as anyone elses.
Mr. Sasser: It is already bigger than .... The next item on the agenda is
Appeal 41167 - At the request of Robert & Antonette Monte who are seeking
a variance of Article IV, Section 412 of the Town of Wappinger Zoning Law
to allow the issuance of a building permit on a lot which does not have
legal frontage on a Town Road on property located on Myers Corners Road
and identified as Tax Grid #19-6258-02-894596-00 in the Town of
Wappinger. Please take further notice, the Zoning Board of Appeals has
declared itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of
Significance for this project on April 26, 1994. Proof of publication?
Mr. Levenson: I have proof of publication and the mailings are in order.
I have one response to your request. There was a request made at the last
meeting with regard to Mr. & Mrs. Parlapiano's variance. They were
granted a variance, #86883, on March 18, 1986.
. Mr. Sasser: That was for the other house that was built there.
Mr. Hirkala: Was that 1986?
wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 7
r.- Mr. Levenson: 1986, yes_
Mr. Sasser: Is that the big modern wood sided house?
Mrs. Monte: Yes.
Mr. Sasser: It is, O.K.. It is a very pretty house. For the record, who
is going to ... ?
Mr. Hirkala: I make a motion to open the public hearing.
Mr. Bitterlich: Second.
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Sasser: For the record, can we know who has visited this lot?
Mr. Hirkala: I didn't drive down the driveway but I drove up to it,
looked down, went down and back. I had visited the site previously for
the previous applicant also_
REMAINDER OF BOARD HAD ALSO VISITED THE SITE.
Mr. Sasser: I want to make sure that the board got everything that was
sent out. Everybody got all of the new maps? We received this packet,
which I presume Mr. & Mrs. Monte had made, showing us what the
'%—expenditures were. We also, tonight, got this from the Fire Prevention
Bureau_
Mr. Lehigh: I don't know what it means.
Mr. Sasser: I'm not sure what it means either. Herb, can you explain
that?
Mr. Levenson: Their comment is that the house can be built in conforming
with the Fire Prevention Law_
Mr. Lehigh: That is not what we asked for.
Mr. Hirkala: That is not what we asked for. We didn't ask him to give us
an opinion as to whether or not the house should be built in conformance
or not in conformance with the fire code.
Mr. Levenson: Well, that is the answer they sent us.
Mr. Sasser: Wait a minute, no, he's talking about the driveway. Mark
Liebermann and Mrs. Tompkins were there. It doesn't really say that
much. It says they approve as long as it complies with the Town
Ordinance.
Mr. Prager: What does that mean?
*OwMr. Lehigh: Well, the Town Ordinance would call for a road.
Mr. Sasser: I think what we were looking to find out was if they felt
there was a safety matter with equipment for getting down that driveway.
09
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 8
`"" Mr. Hirkala: What we are trying to find out is what the fire people have
to deal with, with that driveway. What they had to say about the
condition of it and whether or not they want to comment. Who is this
Joanne Tompkins?
Mr. Levenson: Yvonne.
Mr. Hirkala: She's the chairman.
Mr. Sasser: There is another lot that was issued a variance. Correct?
Mr. Lehigh: No.
Mr. Bitterlich: It doesn't have a variance.
Mr. Sasser: It certainly does as far as I am concerned, that there was
another variance that was granted for the same purpose. It does have a
variance and I can certainly say that my opinion is that we have to follow
our own criteria.
Mr. Hirkala: In my opinion, personally, I don't think there is any way
that we can deny a person from using their property. You can't. Whether
it is a private road or it is a public road. They own the property, they
have a legal right-of-way. You have to give them a permit to build. The
situation is not whether or not we deny a variance. The situation is
whether or not there is a condition on the variance to satisfy any other
concerns that might exist.
Mr. Sasser: The public hearing is already open. Let's hear from the
people that are here to speak. Is there. -anyone here who would like to
speak?
Mr. Parlapiano: Yes we are.
Mr. Sasser: Can I have your names please.
Mr. Parlapiano: Paul Parlapiano and my wife Regina.
Mr. Sasser: You reside on the road?
Mr. Parlapiano: Correct. Just as it was stated earlier, I don't see any
reason they shouldn't be granted the variance. Along the grounds that my
wife and I have a variance for property which is adjacent to theirs.
There were already two established homes off of that driveway. Another
home was just built two years ago on it. The driveway is a solid shale
driveway, which everyone has a maintainance agreement to up keep. Mr.
Cappelli owns the driveway itself. He owns the driveway.
Mr. Levenson: They have to go into contract.
Mr. Lehigh: You have no right-of-way on that driveway?
Mr. Parlapiano: Yes, everyone there has a right-of-way.
Mr. Sasser: Just for the record, everyone on there, in their deeds, has
,..r'
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 9
'%w an easement across that right-of-way. Everybody, by their deed, also is
required to maintain that road.
Mr. Monte: We have a road maintenance agreement.
Mr. Sasser: There is an agreement to maintain it.
Mr. Lehigh: We don't actually have a copy of it.
Mr. Sasser: We do have it.
Mr. Hirkala: We do, it's in this package.
Mr. Levenson: You've got the contract.
Mr. Hirkala: We got this at the last meeting, didn't we.
Mr. Prager: By mail.
Mr. Lehigh: I don't have a copy of it.
Mr. Sasser: There is a road maintenance contract and agreement. Everyone
is a part of that. Mr. Parlapiano, is that all that you had to say? Are
you immediately adjacent to them?
Mr. Parlapiano: Yes, we are just north.
Mr. Hirkala: That would be the third lot in on the left.
Mr. Parlapiano: That is correct_
Mr. Sasser: Is there anyone else who would like to speak? The applicant?
I know you have provided us with a lot of things here. Is there anything
that you wanted to add?
Mr. Monte: Hopefully we have assisted the board enough that you can make
a valid decision. We have provided the site plan and a booklet, hopefully
it is informative.
Mr. Sasser: What was that, a 1.2 acre lot?
Mr. Monte: 1.2, correct.
Mr. Sasser: It's a buildable lot?
Mr. Levenson: It's a buildable lot.
Mr. Parlapiano: The only other thing that I should mention is that frc-_
time to time some of us have required service from Central Hudson to cc
down and service the electric. They didn't have any problems with their
trucks.
Mr. Sasser: You are getting town water there?
Mr. Parlapiano: We have town water. When I built, I had two tractor
D
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 10
trailer trucks come down, not to mention all of the contractors, but as
far as the solidness of the driveway, it is solid shale. I know, I built
a water line through it.
Mr. Sasser: These people all have a contract to maintain this road. They
have to keep it to driveable standards. I don't have a problem with it.
Mr. Lehigh: Is there any reason why the pillers are so close? They
couldn't be farther apart? It seems like you have a lot more road there
that is graveled and stoned and taken care of. There is a considerable
amount of room. That could be made into a road without any problem
what -so -ever.
Mr. Sasser: Well, there is a lot more to making it a road than just
widening the pillers_
Mr. Lehigh: If you widened the whole road and didn't move the pillers,
it wouldn't do you much good_
Mr. Levenson: It wouldn't do you any good.
Mr. Sasser: Nobody is talking about widening the road here, are they? Or
did I miss something?
rr Mr. Lehigh: I asked a question.
Mr. Sasser: About moving pillers.
Mr. Hirkala: And widening the road too..
Mr. Sasser: Oh, and widening the road.
Mr. Lehigh: I asked a question but you're not giving me a chance to get
an answer. I wasn't asking you, I was asking them.
Mr. Sasser: I understand but I want to understand what is going on also.
Mr. Lehigh: Listen, I was asking if there was any reason that the pillers
are set in so narrow'
Mrs. Parlapiano: Just that it was established. It was there from the
very beginning when the first property was ever sold. It is a very old
farm. It's been there for years.
Mr. Lehigh: There are no reasons why the pillers are that close. I
understand, to get the house in, one has to be taken down and you are
talking about taking it down and putting it back. What I am saying is,
looking at it as a viable and easy way to get in, it would make it a lot
easier ......
- Mr. Monte: To put it back in a different spot and make it bigger.
Mr. Lehigh: That's right.
Mr. Monte: That's no problem.
Nw
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 11
Mr. Hirkala: Has any of the people that lived there ever considered the
problem that might occur in the case of an emergency, trying to get
emergency vehicles down that road?
Mrs. Parlapiano: There have been fire trucks, not that there have been
any fires, but a couple of times they have had to come down looking for a
location. They have come down in the middle of the night with no problem
with their search lights. My own father, who lives with us and is
disabled, I want to make sure that I could get emergency vehicles down
there if there was a problem_
Mr. Hirkala: You do realize that if there is a problem, one truck gets
down there .... nothing else gets down there. That driveway is blocked.
Mr. Lehigh: You have to look at the worst time. When you have 8" of new
snow on the ground and somebody gets sideways in that driveway because it
is not properly taken care of and the ambulance is on the other side ....
you're out of luck.
Mrs. Parlapiano: Yes, but who says that it's not plowed or properly taken
care of. We all have ._
Mr. Lehigh: Looking at the road, it's not a very wide road. It is a
steep road, and I'm calling it a road and I shouldn't be because it's a
,,,,driveway. When you have a fire down there, the firemen are all
volunteers, you are not going to see just one truck there. 'If you have a
fire you are going to see about 30 cars along with trucks. They come from
home, they don't come from the fire station. What we are saying to you is
that the pillars in at the road .... I think there is a hazard there.
Mrs. Parlapiano: Maybe that is a good idea to move the pillars and widen
that up but as far as ..... like I said, there have been trucks that have
come down there with the other little fire trucks that come behind them
and the big, big fire truck and all of the other ones. They have all come
down there.
Mr. Sasser: I don't believe the applicant .... you are not the owner of
the pillars, are you?
Mrs. Parlapiano: No.
Mr. Sasser: That is owned by an individual.
if they want to.
Mr. Monte: Al Cappelli.
Mr. Sasser: The owner must move them.
Mrs. Parlapiano: Yes, he's a reasonable man.
They can't move the pillars
*ft,..Mr. Prager: Also, it has nothing to do with their variance.
Mr. Sasser: It has nothing to do with their variance. You are absolutely
right_
En
Mr. Hirkala: I wouldn't agree with that at all
that.
Mr. Sasser: Why not?
lame
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 12
I wouldn't agree with
Mr. Hirkala: Because of the fact that any variance that we grant, we are
responsible for granting the variance. If there is any dangerous
condition that exists and we grant a variance then we are liable.
Mr. Sasser: Yes, but those pillars are not in a situation .... the
pillars themselves that create any type of danger at all.
Mr. Hirkala: No but in your opinion....
Mr. Sasser: What couldn't fit through because of the pillars? A house,
that is about it.
Mr. Hirkala: I don't know.
Mr. Parlapiano: The dangerous condition also exists for the people that
already live down there_
Mr. Lehigh: That's right.
Mr. Hirkala: That's right, it does.
Mr. Parlapiano: It takes a lot of cash to do that, sewer system, paving,
curbing, etc._
Mrs. Parlapiano: If the Town wants to make that a road, I'd be all for
it.
MIXED DISCUSSION
Mr. Sasser: Wait, let's stop right now. We are not going to get the
dialogue back and forth. This is a public hearing and that is not going
to happen. Make your point.
Mr. Hirkala: The reason you have to have town road frontage is because
the Town, legislatively years ago, made a determination that they did want
private roads as a matter of course in the town. They wanted roads to be
Town roads in the town. That is why you have a condition in the ordinance
that states that you have to have road frontage. That is why you are here
for the variance. If you want to have a Town road, you can petition the
town, but I can tell you right now that you would have to up -grade that
road to Town specifications. which means, do exactly, widening it to Town
specifications, making the depth to Town specifications, put drainage in
to Town specifications at your expense, prior to the Town taking it over.
So before anymore further discussion comes along that line .... the point
I am trying to bring up is, one of my concerns is granting a variance
,thereby putting the Town in a position where there is a liability for a
future problem that might occur because of an emergency situation. You,
as a resident of the town, have said that there is no problem with that.
You, as a resident, with the road , said there is no problem with that.
Mould you go on record to say that you would not hold the Town liable for
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 13
any emergency's that might occur because of the road situation down there?
Mr. Parlapiano: I would think that would be up to each individual home
owner.
Mr. Sasser: Mike, you are not even talking to the applicant.
Mr. Hirkala: I'm trying to make ._
Mr. Sasser: You are talking to a member of the public, not the applicant.
Mr. Hirkala: I'm trying to make a determination in my own mind as to how
important this is to anybody that lives there.
Mr. Sasser: But that has nothing to do with the applicant making an
application.
Mr. Hirkala: It bares directly on what my consideration is for the
variance. Doesn't it? Does it?
Mr. Sasser: I don't think so.
Mr. Hirkala: Well, that's your opinion. To me, it bares directly on it.
We've been here before. We were in other situations the same way and as a
matter of fact in another situation we put a fire truck down that road and
""'"that was coming back out of it. This road was finished and wider than the
one that exists and I had to turn off the road, into a driveway, to allow
the fire truck down there. Which means that only one vehicle can get in
there and out of there at one time_
Mr. Levenson: I put my car along side of the tanker and we drove down
along side of each other to the bottom of the hill of Johnson Place.
Mr. Hirkala: Well, I was coming out of there with my pick up truck and I
couldn't fit. I had to pull into the driveway.
Mr. Levenson: I took my Town car and put it right along side of the
tanker.
Mr. Sasser: Does the board have any specific questions they would like to
ask the applicant?
Mr. Lehigh: Yes, I do. I would like to know just how wide that
right-of-way is.
Mr. Sasser: Is it on the map?
Mr. Lehigh: I didn't see a measurement on it. I thought that maybe in
the minutes that you got, there might have been something, but I didn't.
*MW Mr. Levenson: Twenty feet.
Mr. Sasser: Twenty feet?
Mr. Levenson: Yes.
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 19
Mr. Larry Paggi: Right and that setback, you should note, the reason
the setback really is only 151. For this zone, the fact that we have a
residential property next door, adjacent to it .—
Mr. Sasser: Is that a stockade fence there?
Mr. Larry Paggi: It exists. There is a lot of existing natural
vegetation there.
Mr. DiNonno: Mr. Chinella is very happy with us. That is his property,
that lime_
Mr. Hirkala: How about Mr. Henzler?
Mr. DiNonno: Mr. Henzler? That is all swamp back there. There is about
400' of swamp there.
Mr. Levenson: The interesting thing that you should know about it is that
2 or 2 1/2 years ago Phil put up a fence and created that yard. He
provided it. I've gone by there two years since the fence is up and you
never see a car outside when he is not operating.
Mr. Sasser: There is no detriment nearby and it really is screened well.
The neighborhood is not going to change at all. There are other means to
change it but I don't know that they are practical means.
Mr. Levenson: I would recommend, Mr. Sasser, that you refer this to
Mr. Sasser: As normal, as usual, we are probably going to ignore whatever
you recommend..
Mr. Lehigh: I make a motion that we close the public hearing.
Mr. Prager: Second_
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Bitterlich: I make a motion to accept the variance as requested.
Mr. Prager: Second.
Roll call: Mr. Pager: Aye. Mr. Lehigh: Aye.
Mr. Hirkala: Aye. I would like to put in the findings of fact that the
lot is an odd shaped lot.
Mr. DiNonno: If the building was 10' over, we wouldn't be here.
Mr. Sasser: I would like to add my findings as well that it is not
.•detrimental because of the screening. There is no change ......
Mr. Levenson: That is in the printed form that we use_
Mr. Sasser: I would like it in the record with regards to my vote in
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 20
findings of fact.
Mr. Levenson: Oh, fine. Be my guest.
Mr. Sasser: We find that the variance is insubstantial because it is a
small request. I vote Aye.
Mr. Bitterlich: Aye.
Mr. Sasser: It will be filed within five days. Thank you gentlemen.
Mr. Larry Paggi: Thank you.
Mr. Sasser: The next item on the agenda is Appeal 41169. At the request
of Frederick J. Becker, Jr. who is seeking two (2) variances of Article
IV, Section 412 of the Town of Wappinger Zoning Law to allow the issuance
of variances on two lots which do not have legal frontage on a Town Road.
The property is located on the southwest side of Old Ketchamtown Road and
identified as Tax Grid #19-6156-01-317948-00 in the Town of Wappinger.
Please take further notice, the Zoning Board of Appeals has declared
itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative Declaration of Significance for
this project on April 26, 1994. Proof of publication?
Mr. Levenson: They are all in order Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Sasser: Thank you. Can I have a motion to open the public hearing?
Mr. Bitterlich: I'll make a motion to open the public hearing_
Mr. Levenson: You have a letter dated May 6th .... ?
Mr. Sasser: I'll second the motion to open the public hearing.
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Levenson: Do you have any questions with regard to the letter?
Mr. Hirkala: I have a question in regards to the final resolution of who
adjoins the property to the east. Is it Stonykill?
Mr. Levenson: Yes, Stonykill.
Mr. Hirkala: Was the State notified?
Mr. Levenson: Yes.
Mr. Sasser: Did the State respond?
Mr. Levenson: They did not respond. They sent a card back.
� Mr. Hirkala: Who signed the card?
Mr. Bitterlich: They sent the card of registration back.
Mr. Sasser: Right, which is the only thing ....
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 21
Mr. Hirkala: Where was it sent to? Stonykill?
Mr. Sasser: No, the Department of State. or do you notify the County?
Mr. Hirkala: It wouldn't be the County. It is a State function.
Mr. Levenson: N.Y.S. Department of Education.
Mr. Hirkala: The Department of Environmental Conservation owns it.
Mr. Levenson: No, the property is owned by the N.Y.S. Board of Education.
Mr. Sasser: That is correct.
Mr. Hirkala: Herb Eshpock is the manager there. He works for the D.E.C..
Mr. Levenson: The Board of Education operates the property. D.E.C. is in
there either on a lease agreement or some sort of an agreement.
Mr. Sasser: Is there anyone in the public that would like to speak for or
against this in the public? As a member of the public, you certainly are.
Mr. DiNonno: As a Planning Board member?
NO Mr. Sasser: Can I have your name please? No, I think you can speak as
Mr. Hirkala: As a member of the Planning Board, he is in the minutes.
Mr. DiNonno: Can I clarify the notes that were sent to you?
Mr. Sasser: Sure.
Mr. DiNonno: In my opinion, what I was trying to bring out at the
Planning Board meeting was that according to our Town Ordinances Mr.
Becker could, if it fit, a six lot subdivision on that piece of propert- .
He could bring a Town road out right there. I, myself, don't see the
difference between a 25' wide Town road coming out on that road, which -s
Old Ketchamtown Road. It's off ...
Mr. Sasser: Or a driveway.
Mr. DiNonno: or a double -wide driveway. So that is why I was
recommending for a variance. I also see an easier use of the property as
far as emergency equipment. Two houses back there, that is all you have
to worry about. Two houses, two septics, two wells, vs. six wells, si:=
septics ....
Mr. Sasser: That is a good point. One of the things that I am concern=a
about though, and this is different than the last case, here you have
rrrsuppose we do need a driveway ... two lots .... What is going to happen
when it comes to six months down the road and someone else wants to div_=de
it?
Mr. Hirkala: They would want to do the same thing.
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 22
Mr. Sasser: Then I think we are setting bad precedence.
Mr. Hirkala: What they would want to do then is establish a private drive
and they would have to get a variance to do that. They would want to
subdivide a piece of property off a private drive. They would have to
come to us to do that.
Mr. Lehigh: One characteristic of this subdivision, he is land -locked by
lots.
Mr. DiNonno: May I add something? When they did the subdivision of this
piece of property, at that time, the Zoning Ordinance provided 25,
frontage for a driveway, which they allowed for plus 101. Since then the
Zoning Ordinance has changed.
Mr. Hirkala: I would like, right now, to stop that statement from going
any further. The reason for that is, if that thought, if that kind of
reasoning was allowed to exist then everybody who had something before a
change in zoning is entitled to it. That doesn't make sense. The person
who owns the property ....
Mr. DiNonno: Something was brought up at our Planning Board meeting, by
one of the members, that he did this to himself by subdividing the
property that way. But at the time he was subdividing it, it did conform.
So, he did do it to himself, but at the time it would have allowed for a
two lot subdivision.
Mr. Hirkala: The thing that has to be looked at is the person that, if
that were the case every time, was under legal ...... legally notified
through the legal notices that this was going to happen then he had an
opportunity to comment on it at the public hearing. He also would have
had an opportunity to make an application for a subdivision prior to that
happening, so that he could come in with a prior request. I know people,
as a matter of fact, somebody in this room did it. They went through that
whole package because of that. There is recourse in what you are bringing.
up. To me, that is not a valid consideration.
Mr. Sasser: Mr. Becker, could you tell us what you are looking to do with
the property, exactly?
Mr. Becker: Probably sell it, to build one house. It's got 60' of road
frontage there. It's wide open, no problem. Two driveways can go back.
As the property goes back it gets wider.
Mr. Sasser: Have you considered putting a cul-de-sac in there?
Mr. Becker: I can't afford it.
Mr. Hirkala: I was reading here in the minutes from the Planning Board
the discussion. I didn't realize that you had that subdivision on this
- property. How many lots ...
Mr. Becker: In 1984 I built this house that I live in now, which is the
one in the middle of the 10 1/2 acres. Ray Kihlmire did it. I checked,
legally, to see what I would need if I wanted to put another subdivision
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 14
Mr. Larry Paggi: Right here? Ten feet_
Mr. Levenson: Ten feet, I'm sorry.
Mr. Larry Paggi: Eleven feet_
Mr. Levenson: I'm sorry, I was looking at the wrong scale.
Mr. Sasser: I don't think granting the variance changes anything. Herb,
what year was that other variance granted?
Mr. Levenson: 1986, ##86883 on March the 18th.
Mr. Parlapiano: I believe the right-of-way itself is 20' in width but the
road itself, he just measured it, is 11' or 121. That should be on the
site plan, the width of the right-of-way.
Mr. Hirkala: It's not.
Mr. Parlapiano: Isn't it on my site plan Mr. Levenson?
Mr. Hirkala: There is a scale and the driveway is on it.
Mr. Levenson: Measuring it on the scale, it's about ill. It's probably
yam, 20' wide on
Mr. Prager: Isn't there some specifications for driveways in the town?
Mr. Levenson: No, we only have road site.
Mr. Prager: None for ...
Mr. Hirkala: The highway specs.....
Mr. Lehigh: Grades.
Mr. Levenson: All you have to ...
Mr. Sasser: You are right, there are grade specs.
Mr. Levenson: Grading specs, but that is not specs for the driveway. The
only thing, when you build a single family house and you are on a real
road, you have to put 25' of black top on the bottom of the driveway.
That is all that is required.
Mr. Hirkala: What you are saying is that you have to put 25' in, that's
it-
Mr.
t_Mr. Levenson: That's it.
,. Mr. Hirkala: The top half....
Mr. Levenson: You can put gravel.
Mr. Sasser: Can we have a motion to close the public hearing?
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 15
Mr. Bitterlich: So moved.
Mr. Prager: Second.
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Bitterlich: I make a motion that we grant the variance.
Mr. Sasser: I'll second that motion. I would like to add that I think it
should be granted because there is no change to the property. I don't
think it is going to change the character of the neighborhood at all. The
only other feasible method to achieve and benefit is to widen that road
and have everyone share the cost, perhaps. I don't think the variance is
substantial. I believe that there is a precedence and I believe it should
be followed.
Mr. Hirkala: What precedence?
Mr. Sasser: I believe that there ....
Mr. Hirkala: What are you setting on a precedence?
Mr. Sasser: We just got the road in. I think that other people felt that
this was not exactly the same situation so there was no precedence. I
*AW feel that it is.
Mr. Hirkala: Same situation as what?
Mr. Lehigh: As the other ...
Mr. Sasser: I believe that we are bound to follow it. There was another
variance granted on that road.
Mr. Hirkala: I made a comment at the beginning of the meeting, at the
opening of the public hearing, of my opinion. I still feel ... I think
legally you are going to find that opinion, there is no way that you
cannot grant this variance. Do you know what I'm saying?
Mr. Sasser: I believe what you said was that there was no way we could
deny the homeowner the use of the property.
Mr. Hirkala: That's right. There is no way that we can deny this
variance.
Mr. Bitterlich: I don't believe that this request for a variance has any
relationship to a prior request for a variance.
Mr. Sasser: And I believe that it doesn't without the .... can we have a
roll call vote on this please.
,,.,.Roll call: Mr. Prager: Aye. Mr. Bitterlich: Aye.
Mr. Lehigh: Nay_
Mr. Hirkala: I'm going to vote aye primarily because of my previous
comments that we cannot deny the people use of their property. I strongly
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 16
suggest that somebody approach the problem of the front of the driveway
that have an access problem for emergency purposes. I think legislatively
..... or somebody should get a hold of that problem and really take a look
at it and maybe they can come up with some answers. We are bound by law
and by the rights of the owner.
Mr. Sasser: Aye.
Mr. Levenson: Mr. Chairman, a four to one vote in favor of the variance.
Mr. Sasser: It has been granted and will be filed within five days.
Mr. Levenson: Through the process of discussing taking down the pillars,
let's talk to Mr. Cappelli_
Mr. Monte: Well, I spoke to him about it. I had his approval to ....
Mr. Sasser: And put it back_
Mrs. Monte: We can move it but we have to put it back.
Mr. Monte: Well, not destroy it. In other words, he thinks that the
pillers look nice.
Mr. Sasser: That is fine.
MUFFLED VOICES
Mr. Monte: I think that I can agree with him on that. He is very
sociable.
Mr. Levenson: If you have any problems, I'll be glad to talk to you.
Mr. Monte: Thank you for your assistance.
Mr. Sasser: The next item on the agenda tonight ......
Mr. Hirkala: Based on what I said before about the possibilities of
having .... we have a member of the Planning Board here. Could you bring
that up at the Planning Board at a meeting sometime?
Mr. Levenson: In order to bring that up to the Planning Board ..... we
will go to the Town Planner first. we will bring it up at the ....
Mr. DiNonno: The situation that we have run into is that you can't do i_
now, new. Because there is property on private driveways. What are you
going to do with it?
Mr. Hirkala: Check with the Planner.
it_
'r..r
Mr. Sasser: We just did.
Mr. DiNonno: All we can do is deny it.
I think there are ways to deal wi,�:h
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Wappinger
Minutes -
Mr. Hirkala: You have access to the Planner. We don't.
Mr. Sasser: Appeal 41168 - At the request of Philip DiNonno,
Mr. Lehigh: Denied..
Mr. Hirkala: Denied.
Zoning Board
May 24, 1994
Page 17
Mr. Sasser: D/B/A B & B Auto Specialists, who is seeking two (2)
variances from Article IV, Section 422.25 of the Town of Wappinger Zoning
Law as follows: A - Front setback requires 50' and you are showing 401,
requiring a 10' variance; B - Rear setback requires 50' and you are
showing 42' requiring an 8' variance. The property is located on Route 9
and Smithtown Road and identified as Tax Grid #19-6157-04-730008-00 in the
Town of Wappinger. Please take further notice, the Zoning Board of
Appeals has declared itself Lead Agency and has made a Negative
Declaration of Significance for this project on April 26, 1994. Proof of
publication.?
Mr. Levenson: All of the receipts are in order. Mr. Chairman, well you
might as well open it because I want to read this letter.
Mr. Lehigh: Motion to open the public hearing.
Mr. Bitterlich: Second..
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Levenson: You received a letter dated May 9th from me that gives you
the history of this project. (Reading letter) As per your request, we
list below the history of the building permits that have been issued to
date on the above parcels. The interesting thing about this history is,
all of the building permits that were issued have been C.O.'d and are in
order. You see, in the letter, new construction on 11/27/92, alteration
of the commercial shop. Line 1 was new construction of a building.
Mr. Hirkala: Is that date, 1992, true? Shouldn't it be 1972?
Mr. Levenson: 1972, I'm sorry. I will have to tell my secretary.
Mr. Bitterlich: Put this off for another month.
Mr. Levenson: I thought you were going to put it off until Christmas and
you were going to give it to him for a Christmas present. Line 2 - was
10/28/76 and that was an alteration to the existing building. Eight
sheetrock's, steel doors, spray booth and a wooden front door installed
C.O.'d on the 23rd of November, 1976. 11.1r3 - 9679 was in the Commercial
District. Additional commercial building, automotive - C.O. 791681218: -
that was an addition to the rear of the building. Line 4 was building
permit 84167 - additional commercial. Addition to a building for a spray
booth. As I say, gentlemen, all of these, it is one of the few
commercial jobs that we have in our posession where when you look over on
the right hand side of the print out, you see that a C.O. is issued. T^ey
are all legal changes_
on
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 18
Mr. Hirkala: They are all legal changes?
Mr. Levenson: Yes sir.
Mr. Sasser: Were there any variances granted for this?
Mr. Levenson: No.
Mr. Hirkala: So, the discussion that we had at the last meeting as to
whether any of this pre -dated zoning ..... none of this pre -dated zoning.
It all comes in under the zoning. What about the setbacks? Were the
setbacks back -dated?
Mr. Levenson: The setbacks were conforming with the ... then ....
Mr. Hirkala: So, the setbacks today are legally non -conforming.
Mr. Levenson: Right.
Mr. Sasser: They are legally non -conforming because ....
Mr. Hirkala: Because at the time of construction, they were conforming.
Mr. Sasser: O.K..
Mr. Hirkala: Whatever is there was put there based on what setbacks
existed at the time.
Mr. Sasser: O.K..
Mr. Levenson: You all know where this is located, right?
Mr. Sasser: Yes. Does the board have any questions? Is there anybody in
the public that would like to speak for or against this?
Mr. Levenson: Mr. Paggi?
Mr. Larry Paggi: I think you guys pretty much know what has happened
here. Do you need any additional information? What we are trying to do
Mr. Hirkala: Let me get this clear now. You are looking for 10' on the
front setback and 8' on the rear setback.
Mr. Larry Paggi: Right.
Mr. Levenson: It is the one spot.
Mr. Sasser: Isn't that where it says proposed storage there? The back is
the closest?
Mr. Larry Paggi: That rear setback ....
Mr. Sasser: That is the closest point.
`4w
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 23
in there. It was 25'. I put an extra 10' on it. That is how I did it.
I guess they changed it in 1987.
Mr. Hirkala: What was the original line? There were two lots cut out of
it?
Mr. Becker: Yes, there is two buildings out front.
Mr. Hirkala: Off of the original parcel?
Mr. Becker: Right, they were existing buildings. It was all one big lot.
I believe it was 12 or 13 acres there. To build a new house, I had to
subdivide and put the two buildings out front, separate. I did that and I
tried to follow everything ....
Mr. Hirkala: There is an apartment house there?
Mr. Becker: Now it is a family house. I sold it. The people own it. it
is not an apartment house anymore. It was, when I owned it, an apartment
house.
Mr. Sasser: What kind of a driveway do you plan on putting in there?
What is the difference between putting a driveway there and a Town road?
Mr. Becker: Expense.
Mr. Sasser: I understand that but I mean physically. What are you doing
differently? Are you putting a gravel path? A dirt road?
Mr. Becker: That is up to the buyer. I don't know, If I sell it. It
would have to be whatever has to be. Whether it be blacktop or 25' from
the driveway ....
Mr. Hirkala: This was done in 1984?
Mr. Becker: Yes it was.
Mr. Lehigh: The only problem I have is, by what means are you going tell
us that you aren't going to subdivide the rest of it?
Mr. Sasser: I think that we are setting up ....
Mr. Becker: You can't subdivide the rest of it, just the way the property
is laid out.
Mr. Sasser: Yes you could. You have 3 acres is that lot that you are
going to piece off.
Mr. Becker: 3 1/2.
Mr. Sasser: What is the zoning there?
Mr. Becker: We don't have the road frontage.
Mr. Sasser: You don't have it now but you are looking to subdivide.
En
Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Mage 24
Mr. Becker: But there is two driveways that you could put along side of
each other. If you get to where the extra property is to the right, where
the land is to the right of my house, there is about 6 acres there. There
is no way to get to it. Therefore we can't subdivide it. There is no way
in hell we can subdivide it.
Mr. Hirkala: Herb, what is the standard width of the Town Board?
Mr. Levenson: I don't have the highway specs.
Mr. Larry Paggi: Right-of-way is 50' and the road is .......
Mr. Sasser: I would like very much to be able to see Mr. Becker be able
to do this ....
Mr. Hirkala: Let me try and lay out what is going through my mind. What
I am afraid of is as Joel brought out. The fact of subdividing and
selling the lot, the person in two or three years comes back in and wants
to put in a private road with a subdivision. We can always turn him down,
but that is us. The next board might be pressured to do something
different, who the heck knows. But the other thing is that we've set
precedences in the past by denying, as much as I would like to see him
have some use and sell the lot, we've set precedences in the past by
denying variances. I can't think of any off hand, but we have. Because
of the fact, when he originally subdivided in 1984, I sat at Planning
*'"Board meetings for many many years. As a matter of fact, I,think I missed
one in twenty years. Up until the last three or four years, I haven't
been to any. Many times the Planning Board would come in and block this
side ...... at least come in with a sketch plan. At least come in with a
sketch plan and show me what you envision this lot to be able to provide
to you. You can ask but I know in previous times that has occurred. A
lot of this thing is, you've got two lots out because of the structure.
You've got a big piece of property. You could always leave 601. 601
could be for many reasons. The two lots could also .... for the Town
alone. Potential for the Town alone, whichever way it is going to fall.
Along comes the Town Board and widens it from 25' to 501, again, it
wouldn't pay off. This is what has happened in the past with other
people. One of the problems that I'm concerned about is granting a
variance and not having a reason, other than the fact that gee, it's nice
to give the guy two lots.
Mr. DiNonno: Just to clarify on that, when people come forth, we want
them to show, we just did that at the last meeting. Those are lots that
can be legally subdivided without variances. Those are major lots.
Mr. Hirkala: When this subdivision was originally done in 1984, there
were lots there that could be done legally.
Mr. DiNonno: Right.
,,.Mr. Levenson: Yes, but we just had that 257 acre piece. The guy is
making two lots and they asked him, can you tell me what is going to
happen? They couldn't tell him.
Mr. Hirkala: If someone requests a subdivision and they have a big parcel
LJ
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 25
of land and they just want to cut off one corner, normally, what the
Planning Board will do is informally or officially ask the applicant to
tell them what they envision for the rest of the property. The applicant
will say, I want to do this and this or I don't know. I've actually seen
where the engineer, as a matter of fact Ted Russ is the one that had to do
it, and that property off of Ketchamtown Road, the best he could do with
some of the lots was 12 acres because of the wetlands. You guys recently
subdivided that property again. This is a matter of precedence that the
Planning Board has done. I would have to assume that the Planning Board
did that on this.
Mr. Becker: They asked me about subdividing. I said, "how much road
frontage do I need?" I asked that and they told me at that time it was
legal.
Mr. Hirkala: No, we are talking about two different things. You are
talking about how much road frontage you need for a lot. I am talking
about what you envision with the rest of the acreage there. You have ten
acres left after you cut off two lots in the corner_
Mr. Becker: They are all hills and low lands. You can only do so much.
Mr. Hirkala: That is one of my problems.
Mr. Sasser: Does the board have any other questions? Does anyone in the
"'public have anything else to add to this? Can I have a motion to close
the public hearing?
Mr. Bitterlich: I make a motion to close the public hearing.
Mr. Hirkala: Second..
Vote: All ayes.
Mr. Lehigh: My whole problem with the thing is that I don't want to go
back to where we were in Johnson Lane. The variance was needed in here
and you are putting houses in on driveways. I have a problem with that, a
personal problem. If he is doing two houses, I don't really see a real
problem with two houses. But I don't know how you lock him in ....
Mr. Sasser: You can't and that is the issue. I'm going to make a motion
to deny ...
Mr. Becker: Excuse me, there is only one house there. I am not doing two
houses.
Mr. Sasser: I understand that.
Mr. Becker: One house is in the middle of that six acres.
,41W Mr. Sasser: We understand that.
Mr. Becker: O.K.-
Mr. Sasser: You are looking to subdivide .....
`W
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Wappinger Zoning Board
Minutes - May 24, 1994
Page 26
Mr. Becker: I thought you said I was ._
Mr. Sasser: My motion to deny is based on the fact that I believe we are
setting a precedence and when that continues on, it will be a detriment to
other properties and it will change the neighborhood. I believe he does
have another method and that is to put a road in there. Even though it is
a self created difficulty and that doesn't stop him from doing it, it is a
self created difficulty and I would like to make a motion to deny it.
Mr. Bitterlich: I will second that motion.
Roll call:
Mr.
Prager:
Aye.
Mr.
Bitterlich:
Aye.
Mr. Lehigh:
I guess I
am going
to have
to go
along with the
denial.
Mr. Hirkala: I'm going to vote for the denial. I would like to also sav
that the Town Board, legislatively, went to the ....
Mr. Levenson: It's not over and he's walking out.
Mr. Hirkala: Can I ....
Mr. Sasser: You are on the record, go ahead.
Mr. Hirkala: I would like say that the Town Board, legislatively, changed
it from 25' to 50' and I think the applicant has the option,to go to the
Town Board and request that it be dropped back to 25' again.
Mr. Sasser: Any further business?
Mr. Levenson: Did you vote in favor ....?
Mr. Sasser: I made the motion.
Mr. Levenson: Mr. Chairman, all vote unanimously to deny.
Mr. Sasser: Any further business before the board?
Mr. Bitterlich: I make a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Prager: Second.
Vote: All ayes.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M..
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Idema, Secretary
Town of Wappinger Zoning Board of App= -=--Is