1966-02-24 PHA Public Hearing on Beatrice Irving Property Rezoning Application was held
by the Town Board, Town of Wappinger, on February 24, 1966, at the Town Hall,
Mill Street, Wappingers Falls, New York.
Present:
Joseph H, Fulton - Supervisor
William J. Bulger - Justice of the Peace
Vincent S. Francese - Justice of the Peace
Absent: None
Others Present:
Joseph D. Quinn Attorney for the Town
Harold H. Reilly - Attorney for the Town
Joseph E. Ludewig - Building Inspector
Louis D. Diehl - Councilman
Louis C. Clausen - Councilman
Elaine H. Snowden - Town Clerk
The Public Hearing was called to order by Mr. Fulton at 8:08 P.M.
Clerk read the notice of public hearing on proposal to amend zoning
ordinance and verified its publication.
TO THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF WAPPINGER:
The undersigned, owner of real property situate in the Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York, which same is more particularly described in
Schedule "A" hereunto attached, and which same is presently zoned "RD -20,
Optional Dwelling Residential District", respectfully requests the Town Board
of the Town of Wappinger, in accordance with the previsions of the Town Law
of the State of New York, and the zoning ordinance of the town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York, adopted January 29, 1963, as amended, to change,
alter, amend and modity said zoning ordinance as it affects the premises of
the Petitioner, and each and every part thereof, from "RD -20, Optional
Dwelling Residential District" to zoning classification "GB, General Business
District", and to modify, amend, alter and change the zoning ordinance of the
Town of Wappinger in conformity therewith, as well as the official zoning map
of said Township filed in the office of the Clerk of the Town of Wappinger,
the amendment, change and alteration of which said map shall be in accordance
with the request herein, and further, that the Town board of the Town of
Wappinger undertake to and perform each and every action necessary to rezone
said premises as herein requested.
Dated: November 23, 1965
SCHEDULE "A"
s/ Beatrice IrVing
All that tract or parcel of land situate in the Town Of Wappinger,
County of Dutchess and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at the intersection of the easterly line of lands of Beatrice
Irving with the Southerly line of the New Hamburg TurnpikeHunning from
Hughsonville to the Albany Post Road (Route 9) and runningthence with the
Easterly line of lands of Beatrice Irving South thirteen (13) degrees thirty
(30 minutes thirty (30) seconds East seven hundred twenty (720) feet; thence
with line of lands formerly of Irving the following course $ and distances
North seventy three (73) degrees seventeen (17) minutes West two hundred forty
(240) feet; thence North thirteen (13) degrees thirty (30)minutes thirty (30)
seconds West seven hundred twenty (720) feet to said turnpike; thence with the
southerly line of New Hamburg Turnpike the following courses and distances
South seventy two (72) degrees thirty three (33) minutes East ninety (90)
feet; thence South seventy three (73) degrees forty three (43) minutes twenty
(20) seconds East one hundred fifty (150) feet to the place of beginning.
Containing three and four hundred twenty four thousandths (3.424) acres
of land.
Mr. Fulton: Is there anyone here to speak in favor of this rezoning?
Miss Beatrice Irving, Attorney James Coombs, and Mr. Arthur Dyson were present
for the petition.
.s -
Mr. Coombs addressed the Board on behalf of Miss Irving, beginning with a
brief resume of the property's history and growing need. He cited the fact that
the business has outgrown its present bounds. In order to alleviate an unaccept-
able situation, the petitioners felt it necessary to expand on the building and a
zoning change would be necessary. They intend to extend the building, which was
constructed with the idea of expansion. As enlarged, it will be a more becoming
store for the area. This is a neighborhood store and it is becoming more necessary
because of new developments and apartments. Closest store is in Hughsonville.
Along with the expansion, it is intended to improve the landscaping around the
building. People in the area are agreed that an expansion is desirable. A
petition was circulated and signed by most of the people as they felt the store
should remain and be expanded. Later, people withdrew their signatures because they
felt the area to be rezoned was too large. This was a misunderstanding of the
ordinance and our intention. The area the store services if the Post Road in the
area of Patty's Drive -In, Card Development, New Hamburg Turnpike and easterly
portion of Hughsonville. The change will be desirable because the area will be
cleaned up.
Mr. Fulton: What is the road frontage? Mr. Dyson: 240 feet.
Mr. Coombs: building is now 26 x 32. Anticipated expansion about -30 x 40
or 30 x 50. It will be an "L" shaped building, with addition on the westerly
side.
Mr. Quinn requested Coombs to file site plan with the Board. Mr.. Coombs
agreed, with the understanding that he was not certain that this was the final
proposed extension.
Mr. Ludewig pointed out the location of the Irving property on the zoning
map.
Mr. Fulton asked if there was anyone else to speak in favor or rezoning.
There were none.
There was some discussion, prompted by Mr. Bisom's question as to why the
petition read "General Business" instead of "Local Business".
Mr. Fulton asked if there was anyone else to speak in favor of rezoning.
There were none. Anyone against?
Mr. Herbert Winters, Old Hopewell Road, Hughsonville, asked a few general
questions.
Question: Is the zoning change on the south side only? Answer: Yes.
Question: Is. this all of the parcel, or is there more Irving land adjacent to
this? Mr. Francese asked Mr. Winters if his property abuts any of the Irving
property. It does not.
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Question: Does Mr. Dyson lease this land? Answer: Yes.
Mr. Winters: I am concerned that the area might get a lot of commercially
zoned property on this road. Residents would like Mr. Dyson to expand but
not any additional zoning of a commercial nature.
Mr. Bill Spiedling: No property abutting the Irving property and not
against the zoning. He asked if it is not possible to enlarge this store by
obtaining a variance on the building, rather than by rezoning. Mr. Quinn:
I doubt that it can be done under the General Principles of the Law. I think
it would be a variation of the ordinance. Mr. Spiedling: If the change is
granted, could it be stipulated that it is only for the enlargement of the
store? Mr. Quinn: Obviously this request effects only the parcel involved.
If there is a rezoning, it could not be done conditionally. It would be ill-
advised for this Board to amend their ordinance to accommodate this situation.
Mr. Fulton: For the benefit of the people here, the Zoning Administrator
will explain the difference between Local Business and General Business. Mr.
Ludewig read the definitions of Local and General Business from the zoning
ordinance.
Mr. Bryers - Wappingers Park Homes: How much of Route 9 and 90 is General
Business or Local Business? Would there be enough room on 9 and 9D for business
to flourish w-ithout going any further? Mr. Ludewig pointed out these areas on
the zoning map. Mr. Bryers: Would -this- be an island of General Business on
Hopewell Road? Does this mean others might ask for the same consideration?
Isn't it possible that they might use this zoning change to seek other changes?
I am against this particular zoning change.
Mr. Francese: Is any of your property abutting the Irving property?
Mr. Bryers: No, but I don't think the move would be desirable.
Mr. Bryers: There is no mention of Mr. Dyson in the petition. Mr. Fran-
cese to Mr. Dyson: Do you have a long-term lease? Mr. Dyson: Five years,
runs out in October of this year. •It does not include the entire piece of land.
I lease the building with no stipulation as to- how much I can use.
Mr. Francese to Mr. Dyson: Is there a termination clause in your lease?
Is it possible for either party to terminate the lease with, say, a 90 -day
notice? Miss Irving: No, and he has the right of hold -over.
Mr. Winters to Mr. Dyson or Miss Irving: Why is this General Business
rather than Local Business? Miss Irving: I think you have known me for a
while - my word is good. I own all the property across the street from that
store and I will not do anything to jeopardize it. Mr. Winters: Word does
not hold up in court.
Mr. Coombs: I would like to reiterate about the property across the
street. Property on the same side was subdivided. It was decided to make
it so that we wouldn-'t have a case of spot -zoning and using this parcel as
an argument for future rezoning. As far as General Business along Route 9,
the area we are talking about is R-20 and we think it should remain a resi-
dential section. It is also our feeling that we will have a larger need
for this kind of a store to service the enlarging area.
Mr. Schmalz: As I understand it, these approvals go before the Plan-
ning Board. Could I request that the Planning Board recommendation be read.
Town Clerk read a letter from the Planning Board dated January 6, 1966,
recommending the request for rezoning to General Business be denied because
the size of the area does not lend itself to General Business.
Mr. Clausen: Would Miss Irving be willing to amend the petition from
General Business to Local Business? Mr. Quinn: If the petitioner does wish
to amend this application to ask for rezoning to Local Business, I think
this matter will have to be adjourned and resubmitted to the Planning Board,
with re -publication as well, to the extent that the notice would be amended
to show that it was an adjourned hearing on the request to change from
General Business to Local Business.
Mr. Bisom: Is that Local Business store or stores? Mr. Quinn: It
could be any number of structures. Mr. Bisom: What happens to other stores
in the vicinity? Mr. Quinn: There is no hardship on permitted use. The
question of hardship does not present itself.
Mr. Coombs: We intend to - urge the present application and urge its
approval as submitted. Mr. Bryers: I would like to make my'point -and ask
that the Board look at the Planning Board's recommendation in making their
judgment.
Mr. Coombs: At that hearing of the Planning Board, the reason given
was because the property was too small. We feel that the property is not
too small and not too large. They would have us enlarge this tract if we
are going to do it at all.
Mr. Diehl: In my opinion, the store needs improving. I think the
point to be resolved is expanding the store and yet preventing any undesirable
business coming in.
Mr. Spiedling: I am not against enlarging the store, but unless:it
can be specific and restricted, unless the rezoning is not General Business,
I would like to go record as being against.
The Board went into Executive Session at 9:00 P.M. The Hearing recon-
vened at 9:25 P.M.
Mr. Fulton: The hearing is called back to order. In regard to the
petition to rezone a parcel of B. Irving property from R-20 to General
Business, the Board is now prepared to vote. Upon Roll Call, the vote was
as follows:
Joseph Fulton - Voting: nay
Louis Clausen - Voting: nay
Louis Diehl - Voting: nay
William Bulger Voting: nay
Vincent Francese Voting: nay
Petition Unanimously Denied
Mr. Fulton: I am authorized to make this statement. The decision of
the Board is that it would impose too great a burden on the surrounding
area. However, the decision does not preclude the presentation of other
proposals.
Mr. Clausen made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Bulger.
Motion Carried Unanimously
Hearing closed at 9:30 P.M.
Signed:
Town Clerk
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