A last-minute adjournment at the January 20 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting left neighbors of 52 Mount Airy Road seeking answers about construction activity at the site, while the Board unanimously approved a minor variance for a detached cottage on Riverview Trail.
The 52 Mount Airy Road application was pulled from the agenda after the applicant requested a delay via email late that afternoon, rescheduling the matter to February 17. Several residents in attendance asked whether any movement on the project could occur before the next meeting. Chairman James Tuman explained that the ZBA review is just the first step in a multi-step approval process and that no decisions would be made until a formal public hearing is opened. However, Tuman noted that existing permits for previously approved work on the property could allow some unrelated construction activity. Residents also raised concerns about tree removal and whether a site visit to neighboring properties would be conducted. The Board responded that it would be premature to comment or schedule a site visit without the application formally before it.
When one resident raised scheduling concerns tied to school vacations, the Board noted that matters of this complexity are unlikely to be resolved in a single session and that the public hearing would remain open across multiple meetings if necessary. Community members were encouraged to submit written comments for the record.
The Board then turned to its only other item: a second appearance by Rosanne MacDonald, represented by Norm Jansa of Westchester Modular Homes Construction Corp., regarding a detached accessory dwelling unit at 43 Riverview Trail. The cottage had already received variances in December for height and street setback, but the Engineering Department subsequently determined that the front door placement—shown on the original plans as facing the street—required an additional variance under Section 230-41(G) of the village zoning code.
Jansa argued that the code's restriction on street-facing access applied only to attached accessory apartments, not detached structures, and that relocating the door would be impractical. The side of the cottage, he noted, contains mounds for garbage receptacles and three large propane tanks for a generator, and moving the entrance would require additional excavation and grading.
Board members agreed that an alternative placement, while technically feasible, would be awkward in appearance and raise safety concerns near the mechanical equipment. The Board found the variance was not substantial, did not increase the structure's footprint or bulk, and would not change the character of the neighborhood—though members acknowledged the difficulty was self-created. The motion passed 5-0.
Residents with concerns about the 52 Mount Airy Road project can submit written comments to the ZBA ahead of the February 17 meeting. The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for February 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall.