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Full Transcript

Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

Apr 21, 2026 — 2,647 words, 6 speakers identified
· Transcribed by Deepgram Nova-3
Automatically transcribed from the meeting video and formatted for reading. Speaker names are identified where possible; "(sp)" marks a spelling not yet verified against official records. Click any timestamp to link to that moment.
Stefanie Correale 13:50

I I do. I feel I'm prepared to do so. Okay.

Doug Olcott 13:55

Alright. Anyone wanna take a crack at a motion? Close public hearing? Oh, close we close the public hearing.

Matt Berger 14:04

I can try the motion. Yeah. So there's the variance for the side yard setback and the front yard setback.

Doug Olcott 14:18

And yeah. So just to clarify the amount, Ron, proposed is 13 feet nine inches, required is 15.

Ron Wegner 14:34

13.9 feet. Okay. So Oh, so that's a point nine. Okay. That's that's yes. Mhmm. So that's where that discrepancy came in. So he's asking for a Point one

Matt Berger 14:46

foot side yard variance and a 1.1 foot front yard variance. One okay. Be granted for an addition subject to the following conditions and further fines of variance granted herein. Is the minimum variance necessary and adequate?

Doug Olcott 15:00

Any second?

Stefanie Correale 15:02

Is there a second? Second the motion. All

Doug Olcott 15:05

in favor? Aye. Aye.

Stefanie Correale 15:09

I did second the motion.

Lewis Rohn 15:13

You're approved. Good luck with that. Great. Thank you very much. Appreciate your help your time. To review the five I

Stefanie Correale 15:19

thought we would just leave until the end. Okay, that's fine. Exactly. Yeah, that's great. That's the way we used all this. First one, I kind of did my own version of it.

Doug Olcott 15:30

So the last item on the agenda, let me put this away first, is 39 Palmer Avenue, Cracker. This is for a front yard variance for a proposed addition. Hello? Welcome.

Ron Wegner 16:00

Here's a few surveys. Pass them around. It will be a front and rear yard variance.

Matt Berger 16:08

Oh, okay. Is it a rear yard? Is

Doug Olcott 16:11

that the change from the application that I read? Because I didn't have that in my notes.

Ron Wegner 16:19

Possibly.

Stefanie Correale 16:21

Yeah. It is different. The the application submitted only seeks a front yard variance.

Lewis Rohn 16:26

It's it's a front and rear yard. That's a rear yard. Ron Ron and I had a conversation about it aft. Oh, by the way, hello. My name is Lewis Rohn. I'm the architect for the addition. Okay.

Ron Wegner 16:37

And

Doug Olcott 16:38

so You can introduce yourself. And I'm Margaret. So so before we get going, just you just recite to me what's what the rear yard variance request is?

Ron Wegner 16:48

So with this survey, I've marked in in that that area in red is is existing. It's a connection between a garage and the existing residence that's been there and that connection brought about in 2016 the need for a variance because then the garage was no longer a accessory structure and therefore it need to meet the primary structure setbacks. So this is a cleanup Well, there's there's a couple things going on. So That that was a variance that was granted back in 2016. That was done. Oh, okay. And basically, Lewis is extending that connection to the front of the garage. So

Lewis Rohn 17:37

Almost. Okay. So a little blue area there. The project that we have in front of us is there is an existing breezeway that's been enclosed, connects the garage to the main portion of the house. There's a door that's recessed from the front of the house. So what we're proposing is to align the front door or it's a side door but on the front, so it's like It's the the the second front The hunter facing Exactly. Yeah. We're gonna align with the run of the house, and then we're gonna have an overhang that extends to the edge of the garage. So the house is existing nonconforming. The rear yard setback requirement or variance that we're looking for based on the conversation I had with Ron is because we're changing the roof. Okay. We're doing work in that zone. We wanna make sure that we're a 100% on board and you guys know what we're doing. So

Doug Olcott 18:31

so for this for this house, Hunter is is the front yard.

Ron Wegner 18:38

It's gonna ask just two front yards. It it has It literally has two fronts. We are talking about the Hunter front yard. We're talking about the front yeah. That's that's what needs to vary. Yes. Yes. Mhmm. Yes. Okay.

Doug Olcott 18:49

Alright. And so you're you're expanding the footprint, and you're gonna have an entry canopy. Yes. The expansion is gonna align with the existing house. Correct. And the canopy is not gonna project beyond the existing garage. That's correct. Yes. I wanna make sure I understood that right.

Lewis Rohn 19:19

We think we think it's all within keeping of, you know, the architecture of the neighborhood excuse and

Margaret 19:25

me. And I have two emails from my neighbors on Hunter who are directly across from it that are in support. Okay. I didn't put them in there. Just have them now. Okay. Do you want to give

Stefanie Correale 19:37

those to Stephanie? Please give them to Stephanie. Man. We'll enter those to the record. I like to review those before we vote. Do I understand it correctly that the existing garage is at a six foot setback from Hunter?

Lewis Rohn 19:56

That because I think I thought I saw that on plan. That's what that's what I have on my plans. But based on the conversation I had with Ron earlier today That's why I got the survey. That's why he marked it up. So that And adjusted the so it's actually, like, eight feet. I looked at the numbers the best that I could because it's an older survey scanned copied, scanned, and put onto my drawing, so he had a more original that was more legible, so the numbers are, I think it's like eight feet to the far left corner, and nine feet or so on the corner of the garage. So okay. So So the numbers are a little bit less onerous. And the proposed 7.3 seven foot three is still the same? It's the nine feet. Request is still the same? No. Because the that corner of the garage It's changed. It's less.

Ron Wegner 20:43

Okay. It's less. So at the corner on this survey that we have, that corner of the garage, that is currently set back 9.1 foot. So he'd be looking for a 5.1 foot front yard variance to get 15 feet. And in the rear yard, the house is currently 12.3 feet Mhmm. For the property lines. We'd asking be asking for a 12.7 foot variance, and this corresponds with the previous variance granted in 2016.

Doug Olcott 21:25

It says we should disregard because what was in the application was a front yard variance of 7.4. Right. And disregard that now? Disregard that 5.9.

Stefanie Correale 21:35

So do we do we need do we need a new application to correct the request, or can we just do that? We here have,

Ron Wegner 21:45

fixed it on the resolution.

Stefanie Correale 21:47

Got it. But so Is it 5.9? Yeah. I've just just been handed 5.9.

Doug Olcott 21:55

Oh, it's nine. Yeah. And rear yard is

Ron Wegner 21:57

12 what, Ron? 12.7 foot variance.

Doug Olcott 22:07

Okay. Okay. I'm I'm gonna pass these letters of support around. These are from the residents at 1 Hunter And 3 Hunter Place, which are directly across the street from the subject.

Stefanie Correale 22:25

Do we know whether these letters are in support of the original application or the revised application or do we know?

Lewis Rohn 22:36

It would be the original because it was just revised today. So the numbers that were seven became eight. The numbers that were I'm sorry. Six became eight. Seven became nine. So this is actually a better situation by a couple of feet.

Doug Olcott 22:58

Is this right, by radio?

Ron Wegner 23:00

12.7, yes. Is it on Hunter? That's the variance requested. 9.1. 12.7.

Stefanie Correale 23:08

I wanna get these numbers. I wanna make sure I understand these numbers. What is this one?

Ron Wegner 23:14

Side yard, not a put they're not gonna I'm not asking for a range here. Okay. No more total side yard.

Stefanie Correale 23:20

That's Right. Because you've got you've got you already make the required setback on the side yard. So this is

Matt Berger 23:26

What's this? Next to yes,

Stefanie Correale 23:29

5.9.

Doug Olcott 23:30

And then below it is 12.7.

Matt Berger 23:34

Then this is not applicable. Alright. I need to get a new one of these. I gotta get someone to do it again.

Stefanie Correale 23:47

So let me just understand this. So the proposed setback is five point nine instead of seven point three? Is that work? No.

Ron Wegner 23:55

The branch requested.

Stefanie Correale 23:56

So I didn't have a chance to study This is not this is 9.1.

Matt Berger 24:00

The proposed setback is 9.1.

Stefanie Correale 24:03

Okay.

Matt Berger 24:04

So that that's consistent with this. And the proposed setback for the rear yard is 12.3.

Doug Olcott 24:10

Correct. And that requirement is also 15.

Lewis Rohn 24:14

At 12,

Ron Wegner 24:16

seven? No. Rear yard is 25.

Doug Olcott 24:20

Okay. Yeah. That's right. 12.3 is proposed. 12.7 is the variance. 20 Correct. Correct. Okay. Just wanted to square out my notes.

Matt Berger 24:44

And did you provide a full set of plans to the neighbors?

Doug Olcott 24:47

Yeah. Okay.

Stefanie Correale 24:53

So this this survey that was initially submitted,

Ron Wegner 24:58

It's it's it's actually the same survey. It was just in the bringing it into the computer and

Lewis Rohn 25:06

that's where the interpreter The resolution kinda dropped off and I did the best I could reading those numbers and Ron has a more original survey. Yes. And it was more legible. Because what I did is I scaled the survey so we can get the numbers and then using the computer came up with the six and the seven.

Doug Olcott 25:25

What's the what's the rough roughly the increase in square footage to the house? About 20 square feet

Lewis Rohn 25:33

in that neighborhood. Twenty twenty square feet Correct. Additional? Yes. It's a small addition to infill the little notch that's Little bump there. The little recess. You know, that's the increase of the square footage plus the canopy, but usually we don't count the canopy.

Stefanie Correale 25:55

Okay. And the canopy is, I'm just looking for a sketch of that canopy.

Lewis Rohn 26:01

There's like a west side elevation, I think. So if if you look at drawing a four Yep. Yep. We have the elevations, and the the roof plan also tells the story.

Stefanie Correale 26:17

Got it. The roof so the canopy just goes over the front door and connects to the garage? That's correct. Yes. And and the canopy doesn't come any closer to the it it's really not a setback quest for the canopy, is it? We're aligning with the garage, but since it's construction,

Lewis Rohn 26:36

that's the setback. Right. Okay.

Stefanie Correale 26:40

Thank you. You bet.

Doug Olcott 26:52

Do you guys have any more questions before I open it up to the public? Nope. No. I I I think I understand the application as revised now. Thank you. So at this point, I'd like to open up to the public if anyone has any comments or questions. Alright. Hearing none, I will close the public hearing. I close it this time, Ron. Okay. Noted. Do you gentlemen feel you're ready to make a

Stefanie Correale 27:21

decision on this application? I I think I'm ready to make a decision, although I'm not sure I'm ready I'm the right one to articulate the motion right now because it's all changed since reviewed it. Okay. Alright. Let's Matt Matt will give it a crack then. So now therefore, be it resolved that a

Matt Berger 27:37

five wait. I screwed up. Point nine foot front yard variance and a 12.7 foot rear yard variance be granted for an addition subject to the following conditions and further fines. The variance granted herein is the minimum variance necessary and adequate.

Stefanie Correale 27:56

Second.

Doug Olcott 27:57

All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you very much. Good luck. Thank Thanks. Thank you. We got unanimous vote. Yeah.

Margaret 28:05

Well, have a great night. Okay. I'm gonna get a new site plan at some point. I promise.

Doug Olcott 28:10

I will do, now we'll go back to the five factors. I was just doing that in the interest of everyone's time. Sure. So let's go back to the first application, which is 59 Sunset. No undesirable change to the character of the neighborhood, no detriment to nearby properties.

Stefanie Correale 28:32

Yeah. I think I'm on the record already on the five factors, but I I Okay. I agree because I I kinda reviewed them when I was in our discussion period.

Doug Olcott 28:42

The benefits sought by the applicant cannot be achieved by a method other than requested. We we thought that it could, but that it wasn't really to the level where it was would be required in terms of any detriment. I think we agreed on that. Mhmm. Is the is the variance substantial? 2.3 feet, 3.3 feet, and a five foot width off of eight, twenty, and 50.

Stefanie Correale 29:12

I would say it's not substantial. My opinion is not substantial. I think it it's just an extension of the existing the existing setbacks.

Doug Olcott 29:20

The variance will not have an adverse effect or impact on the physical or environmental condition of the neighborhood. I think we all agreed on that. And the difficulty alleged, it was it is self created, But we didn't feel that that was outweighing the other factors. I agree. Alright. Moving on to 100 Young. No undesirable change to the character of neighborhood, no detriment to nearby properties. Think we probably agree that that is Agree. Not benefits sought by the applicant cannot be achieved by method other than the request variance. I mean, they're going within, you know, the existing footprint. So I don't really think there's any other method to achieving a second floor edition.

Stefanie Correale 30:33

I I agree. I agree. There's always another way of doing something, but it doesn't it doesn't I think that the the factors weigh in favor of asking to do that.

Doug Olcott 30:44

Is it substantial 1.1 inch? I mean, 1.1 feet and point one feet. I I don't I think we would agree it's it's not substantial. It's substantial. I think we agree that it will not have an adverse impact on the neighborhood. I I think I noted in my comments that it's would be very similar to the building directly across the street, which has a similar setback, and it also has a second story. And we have neighbors that all we have unanimous neighbor support and no adverse Right. Comments from any neighbors. So that that's something I would certainly take into account. Right. And I think, again, I think, you know, anytime somebody wants to do something, it's self created. Most most variances are self created. Mhmm. Not all, but most. But I don't think that was a determining factor in our decision. Agreed. Alright. Lastly. 39 Palmer Avenue. No undesirable change to the character of the neighborhood nor debt detriment to nearby properties. It's a very small addition. I think it'll enhance the appearance of the house. It will actually benefit

Stefanie Correale 32:11

the neighborhood. I agree with that. I agree.

Doug Olcott 32:15

The benefits sought by the applicant cannot be achieved by a method other than requested. I think that's true for what they're trying to accomplish here, which again is is a pretty minor minor addition to the house. Now Yeah. I agree with that. In terms of substantial, you know, a 50% variance on the rear yard and, you know, 30 or 40 per percent variance on the front yard, that is that is a substantial variance. But I think that is mitigated by the fact that of the existing nonconformity of the house as it stands.

Stefanie Correale 33:06

I agree with that analysis. Tight very tight lot. Yes.

Doug Olcott 33:11

The existing Corner lot. The the pro proposed variance will not have an adverse effect on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood. I think we agree similar to number one. It'll be improvement, and I think it was self created again. Agree. Agree on that? Okay. In terms of the minutes for the last meeting, Bill and I weren't here. So I don't know whether we wanna wait till next meeting to approve those minutes. I'm not sure if watching the video

Stefanie Correale 33:54

cures that. It probably doesn't. So Alright. Alright.

Doug Olcott 34:00

And I would move that we close the meeting. Agreed. Second. Alright.

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