Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the September 15 meeting of the Croton on Hudson zoning board of appeals. Before we start, two two exits in case of emergency. One in the back there, one you came in. There's also one here. We have three items on the agenda tonight and we'll go in the order. And the first item is Matthew Robinson, 8 Newton Court. Come up and say your name and talk to us about what the your variance request is for.
Great. Thank you. I'm Matt Robinson at 8 Newton Court. My wife wanted to be here today but she's presenting at the Croton Karen Committee. We're requesting a variance for an existing gazebo, an existing accessory structure which is our gazebo in the front of the house located closer to the street than the primary structure. It's been in place for over thirteen years. We had a house fire last May. So May seventh of last year, our house was completely taken down. The only remaining structure from that fire is the gazebo. So, obviously, it means a lot to my wife that that remains. So we're requesting a variance for that existing structure. We've submitted a signed petition from all the neighbors that have visual have a visual property to that gazebo. Submitted plans, shows kind of where the structures is in accordance to actually the rebuild of the house.
So this, gazebo was, you said, 13 ago? Yes, sir. And did you put it in? I did. Yes. Okay. So you've been there. Yeah. We've been in the home for twenty two years. Okay. And then, did you do it with a permit? Or
What I didn't realize is that I needed to give you what I mean, a permit for it at the time. And Ron knows we've permitted everything else we've done in the house, the kitchen, the plumbing, the bathroom redo, the retaining wall we built. So I just didn't think it required one at the time. And when the house had an issue, and Ron and I have spoke a lot about this, this is something that's necessary to get the CEO to get back into the house.
Okay. There's And two variances. Right? We're looking at two variances here. We're looking at near to the street than the primary residence and also a front yard variance of 11.8. Can you see the how that's shown on on the drawing? One question I have shows the property line 287 and then the street is farther out, so there's I guess a part of the grassy section in front is is part of the street, essentially not owned by you. So in a sense, you're farther back than 28 feet from the site from the road?
Was it Do know what I'm saying? Yeah. I know. I'm not sure. Was it is this, like, just being built in the old footprint and that this was a nonconforming structure before the fire?
The house was essentially built within the old footprint, minor expansion of the garage. Right. The gazebo was there. It that that 28.17 comes up to the property line. Yet there is a bit of a grass drift between the curb and the property line and and the village right away there. Right. Mhmm. But, yeah, the house is basically being reconstructed.
On the existing foundation. Mhmm. Right. Yeah. Right. Right. So it's essentially more than 28 feet from the street. Wanna know what that dimension is? Right. Right. So the effective variance is less. Okay. Anyone else have questions on this?
Yeah. Have one question. I noticed that you you included a I'm Bill Goldsmith. I I noticed you included a letter that went out to your neighbors. Correct. Is that all the neighbors in on the street? Because I know it's a cul de sac. It's anybody who can see the gazebo. So it'd be the I'm at eight,
and I'm on the cul de sac. So it's everybody around the cul de sac down to my driveway. So anybody who's behind me who has no visual view of the front of the house weren't included, but I could get them too if you I didn't I wasn't suggesting. Was just asking. Yeah. No. I tried to get everybody who had view of the gazebo.
K. Thank you very much. We'll open the public hearing. Does anyone else in the audience wanna speak on this application? Okay. Now let's close the public hearing. Members, any comments?
Go ahead. I'm sorry. My only comment is I'm not sure whether this is something that would get approved if it was coming to the zoning board before it was constructed because it's not conformant. However, know, and there's risk, you know, anytime zoning board of appeals takes the fact that somebody's something has been built without a permit as justification for granting a variance in the future. But I'm somewhat, you know, pushed over the edge toward approving this by the fact that we have all the neighbors. Yeah. And, you know, the neighbors are fine with it. And somewhat concerned of the presidential value. Understand each item doesn't there's no precedent. One item is one item.
Anyone else? Any comments? Yep. Okay. Anyone who wanna make a motion? I can make the motion.
Make a motion to grant two variances, one with an accessory structure being closer to the street than the principal residence, and one for a front yard variance with the construction of the reconstruction of the house. Front yard variance of 11.8 feet.
Okay. Would you like to Good evening. Your name and Yep. Appoint your your variance application?
My name is Eric Berger. I'm requesting a variance for an existing storage shed and a sunroom. I recently purchased the property, the home four months ago. There are three variances that I'm applying for, a side yard, a front yard, and a combined side yard variance. I received a letter of support from one of my neighbors tonight at 212 Cleveland Drive. Can I give you guys this?
Can you tell us a little bit about the history of the property? You know, how the when the shed was built?
Well, unfortunately, the shed and the sunroom were aren't on any plans. So they were the the most recent plan that we have is around 1990, and neither of those structures were on there. Were on it. Yeah. And there hasn't been anything since then.
It was an interesting situation on how I purchased it. I had to take the property as is because it was a reverse mortgage bank owned property. Okay. Sort of a foreclosure situation.
So there's no well, how how did you verify title then? There had to be some title work. Right? There was. But
the survey was not representative of I I think that's what it's I think on the survey on the bottom, it says something about title, I think. I'm pretty sure.
Survey about Van Wyck title report. Yeah.
Yeah, it's kind of strange because we get a lot of people coming in and selling their houses trying to legalize existing situations. This seems to be a ripe situation, particularly when a bank is involved. I think they would take more care than an individual, but be that as it may, here we are. So what are you asking for? You're asking for A front yard variance. A side Let's talk about each let's talk about each variance. Okay. Yep. Front yard variance, you're looking for 6.2 variance. And and why but you're you're looking for the variance for the house.
Is the front yard variance for the for the sunroom? Because it looks like it The front yard variance is for the sunroom. Yeah. Because it looks like it juts out Yeah. From the photo Yeah. On the left hand side of Right. Right.
is all existing? This isn't anything that you've added? Or No. That was proposing to add? That was existing. Yeah.
The age of the home? Of the additions. Oh, I the the most recent plans that we have are from the extensions from 1990,
and neither of those structures were on there. So sometime between 1990 and now. And now. Yeah. Yeah.
I actually had a conversation with one of the neighbors about it and he couldn't even really
give me an idea, so And the side yard variances are kind of a result of ones on ones. Wide in the house quite a bit.
Total side yard is is by the, I'll say, the shed, the front left, and the right rear combination. Not quite the This is this. The right rear corner. Patio. I think this is the Right. Right rear corner. So the total side yards.
The total side it's it's the minimum side yard. Is that how you how you calculate it? So in in this survey, it's 37.6 seems to be the minimum side yard? Correct. Yes. And then and then minimum on the other side is eight feet. Yes. So that's how you get forty five six. So that's the 4.4. Okay. Okay. Everyone understand that?
And then there's a total side yard combo as well. Yeah. And the total side yard is the 37.6
plus the eight plus 50. That's the total side yard. And, Ron, there's no record of this anywhere?
No. There isn't. It's been the property had been, I guess, abandoned for some time or Yeah. Looked that way at least anyhow? Yep. Yes. Interesting. Next to windows, by the way.
And these these are integrated with the house. I assume the, the portion of shed are they're connected. They're connected. Correct. It's all been built into the house? Plumbing, wiring,
lighting? No plumbing in either. Yeah. Just electrical wiring? The shed, no. And the sunroom, I when I bought it, there was no there was just a post light in it. There wasn't anything else. There weren't any lights in it. Yeah.
Did you inspect the construction, Ron? It will it be inspected as part of the It will be inspected.
I've taken a quick look and and currently, the the rest of the house is being renovated, and we can't really get into the the additional parts until they get a variance,
That that's that's a bridge to be crossed. Yeah. I'm probably gonna be looking to dig something up and and see what we got. Yes.
Okay. So just just because we let let's assume we we approved variance request, that doesn't necessarily mean that the building engineer is gonna do the construction. That's a subsequent process.
Yes. Exactly. What I mean is the existing foundation, existing structure. Right. Okay.
And things like energy code or whatever you have to do for insulation now An enclosed space. Is this gonna be
habitable space, or is this The storage shed is is just a shed. Just a shed? Yeah. Mhmm.
Okay. I see. But to clarify, it's not it's not a accessory structure because we word shed
invokes an idea of, like, a separate shed. No. It's attached. It's like a storage It's like a garage. It's like a storage garage. Room? Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Just extra storage.
Jamie. He's in support. I asked him for a letter, but he didn't get around to it. But he's Which one's 217 now? 217 is Left or the right? Well, if you're standing Looking at the street. Into the street, it's the left.
I'm facing the street from the driveway I'm sorry. From if I'm facing into the house, is that what you're asking? Facing from the from the From the street going in, 2 Seventeen's to the right, 2 Thirteen's to the left. Sorry. And then what about 213? 213? Yeah. I I actually live there. I live at 213.
No. The one the one on the the one to your left. No. No. He bought he bought us bags. I live Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, so you so you're you're presumably in favor. Yeah. So Oh, yeah. I'm in favor. Yeah. You have a letter from that individual. So that that's the property line with the eight foot setback. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Okay. How interesting. Okay. Any more questions for the applicant? Thank you. We'll open the public hearing. Anyone wanna make a comment on the application? Okay. Thank you. We'll close the public hearing. And board members, comments, thoughts?
One of these weird ones where it just shows up.
Yeah. I mean I'm gonna get yelled at again for not speaking into the mic. I said it's a pretty significant side yard side yard variance because of the the shed, I guess it is. But the total side yard is not significant. Yeah. Front yard is not significant. Yeah. Agree. And I feel like, you know, he's trying to do the right thing with the property, and he's probably trying to get rid of an eyesore that he lives next to.
I have I actually have a question. It's kind of a hypothetical question, but do we know whether the house would have satisfied the 20 foot side yard variance? I would just say the same thing. The side yard Would that actually be 20 shed had never been built, or is it still a nonconforming let's let's assume the shed isn't there. What about that corner of the house? Do we know what that measurement is? I believe
Well, it says says it's 13 feet. That's what it says on the drawing here. Oh, it's drawing you look That's fine. Floor plan. Thirteen one.
The width of the shaft. The width of the right. And I I believe it it would be 20. I think twice. So I think I've looked at the survey and Right. So it just made it Just just like the front yard. Yes. When was this house built? Like, the fifties or sixties? 1948.
Yeah. A lot of those built A lot of them in Cleveland there. Yep. You know, I I don't I I don't think anyone is happy with, you know, 18 from the property line, length of variance, but I don't know what you do. I mean, it just seems like it's an existing situation that we're trying to legalize. Yeah. I mean, the alternative is to rip it out. I don't think that's probably good thing to do.
Think the the neighbor who's most affected would normally be the person who I'd be looking for input from, but, we've heard from the neighbors. So that's yeah. The eight feet is tight. But
No. I mean, it's it's it's a shed too. It's not like it's an accessory dwelling, so
inter, like, habitable space? Habitable space? I mean, all they'd really have to do is put some windows in there so they wouldn't really bulk it up in any way. I mean, if you kept the same overall bulk and just added windows and maybe a door, I'd say no.
I I do think one thing it has going for it, this variance, is it's a it's a not very tall, low profile house. Yeah. So, you know, sometimes we do these variances where it's a two story, two and a half stories and it really looms over the adjacent property and I don't think that's the case with this one. Mhmm. Yeah. So I think that that's something that's in in in favor and it kind of slopes actually down a little bit.
Assuming that we approve it, note that like as a mitigating factor for the decision.
By factors? Okay. Thank you. Is that, so closed public hearing? Does anyone want we discussed it. Anyone wanna make a motion?
Motion to approve. Oh, We want we we need a motion. I can You want I can I can read off the variances if you want? Okay.
To approve the request for a 12 yard side yard variance. Four foot side yard. Four four point four foot total side yard and 6.2 foot front yard to legalize the construction of a sunroom and attached storage shed.
Okay. The last the last item on the list Stay stay for deliberations. Stay is Thor Snelsberg, 98 Hastings Avenue.
saw him a few days ago, and he mentioned Anyone have his number? He lives right down the road. Yeah.
Two years. Don't worry about it. Right? You you worry about that. Interest rates and being the borrowing up.
I I mean, the reason. We we sort of this is sort of approved already, but in a different form. It was completely I think it was Is it re reapproval exactly of what what we approved? I I'm not exactly sure. Would Let's ask Ron.
It looks like it. Yeah. It's a reapproval. No. This was this was approved Bryan, how how many times is this approved? Twice. Twice? The third time. For the three years. He's on his way.
Can we can we go through the five factors for the other two? Sure. Yeah. In advance? Like when John's coming? Yeah. Let's do it. Yeah. Okay. So let's first do Matthew Robinson, 8 Newton Court. No undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood, no detriment to nearby properties will produce by granting the variance. Agree. Mhmm. I agree with that. I agree.
The gazebo. Yeah. The benefits up in the applicant can cannot be achieved by method other than the requested variance.
That's the benefit. You can't get the benefit of the gazebo. I guess you could reconstruct the gazebo.
Mean, before the And it's not consisting. Yeah. Right now we're doing that. I would say cannot be achieved. I agree. Requested variance is is not substantial.
because it's either or. You either allow it in the front or you don't. Or you don't. Well, I mean, you could also say that something's really close to the front versus backward.
You know, something's integrated into the house versus something that's Maybe it's not substantial since none none of the neighbors have checked.
Yeah. I'd say it's not substantial also because it's integrated into the house. Now, like you're putting this structure right by the driveway that's not part of the house. It's
Okay. The variance will not have an adverse effect or impact on the physical environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district?
Difficulty alleged by the applicant was or was not self created? Very self created. Was self created. Extremely self created. Extremely self created. Is it that how big it is or is not substantial? Is not substantial. Okay? Yep. Okay. So now we have 215 Cleveland. No undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood, no detriment to nearby properties will be produced by granting others variance.
The benefits of the applicant can cannot be achieved by method other than the requested variance.
So what are we saying with this one? Amendment of Tatyed applicant can cannot be achieved by method other than requested variance? To legalize the house? Yes. It could be achieved.
He's he's asking to legalize the house. Right. So it could be achieved by Yeah, I agree with that. I agree with that. Yes.
Requested variance is, is that substantial? Say, it's substantial, but I think we have
mitigated by the that it's a one story structure, the less of an impact. Right. It should be reflected.
Makes sense, Stephanie? Yeah. So k. Proposed variance will, will not have an adverse effect or impact on the physical environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district?
Was not. Well, I would say it's self created because if you buy a property, you should run a title rep. That's me as a real estate lender.
But still not yeah. But it carries through with the property, not with the the person for these situations.
Like I mean, if you did have a title report, we'd have the same problem, I guess. It would be the bank coming to us and trying to legalize it. Right?
Right. I mean, it problem was self created because he bought the house. Right? But No. That's where I'm going. The nonconforming portion of the structure was not self created. The difficulty alleged by the applicant.
I mean, if Doug's tough. If you wanna take it that far, you could say, run a title report and you tell the guy to remove tell the bank to remove the illegal structure before you close.
Have the same problem. But we don't have to agree. I think it's self created. Majority thinks it's not. Well,
I mean, we've already approved it, so it's nice to whether, you know, you can have a self created problem and still approve Yeah. But it's what what is reflected in the Right.
I don't think so either. I don't think it was self yeah. Okay. I don't either. Okay. Okay.
Okay. Are you set with that? Alright. Okay. He was charged. And now we're ready for mister Powers. Charge. Yes. Yes. Great.
Thank you. Sorry. I thought it was Planning Board was 08:00 last week and that was cancelled for an ADU because the woman that was gonna go in the ADU passed away that day. Amazing. Okay. Progression of events. K. So, anyway, And I'm surprised Thor, the owner, is not here. I expected communication from him. So I don't know. I don't know where he is.
k. So we have a, two issues tonight is to, renew, the variances that were requested some years back regarding a front porch modification alteration. So assuming that that was okay, you know, had gotten the variances, before just, the the owner, missus Snellsbury, hadn't been able to take on that project, let the, the variance lapse for that. So that's that's the first half of what we're here for, but the second half is something new, a new project on the property independent of the front porch.
Okay. It's a matter Clear with this application here. Part two of two is the front porch. If I look down here. Is that correct? K. Proposed eight feet deep and the 19 wide porch extends into the front yard. You're looking for a one foot variance on the side yard and a 2.2 foot on the total side yard?
I I believe that was it. I I like I said, we went through this process. You have part one and part two, and it's kind of So,
John Yeah. So the application came in as two, and and and we wrapped it up as one. And we just called the garage part one and the porch part two. Okay. Just for clarity. Right. Yes. Okay. Okay. Alright. Okay. So, part two,
And that's just, you're just looking for a renewal you're looking for a renewal for two years for that? Yes. Okay. Okay. So let's talk about
the new the new Okay. So this is an existing garage and the project involves modifying the roof structure of the existing garage, which happens to be approximately three feet from both the rear and the side yard or side property line, rear rear lot line and side look. So that's an exist you know, it's an existing structure there. And what we are doing is modifying the roof to increase the slope to the point at which the ridge hits the limit 15 foot as far as height. But by doing that, you increase the
rather not conforming. It's the garage in essence is nonconforming, but it has existed who knows how long. But the fact that we're modifying the roof creates some a little extra encroachment. Right. Primarily in the rear where the ridge, you know, comes up to 15 versus you know? And that's where my drawings kinda indicate that. There is other things being done to the garage making it more of a, you could say, hangout space. We're proposing at least the client wants to propose a bathroom in there, and also extending, the front portion of it. But the front portion extension complies with the five foot setback that is required here. So really is this is all about the roof. The fact that the the structure itself has already, as it as it exists, three feet.
Ron, does the total side yard come into play here? You take the the the minimum on the garage and on the one side and the house on the other side? No. It's just for one structure? Correct. It's just the accessory. And when was this garage built?
I mean, I can't I don't know. I I I can't tell you. I mean, this sir the survey, you know, I would suspect not at the time the house was built, but, you know,
it used to have the the bump out that when people got a bigger car, you know, you started with your model t and you put it in there, and then then and then you got your '50 Chevy and it was longer and you had to get the hood in there. Well, you know what? That bump out, because that's there's something there's something wrong about the survey
that is on the record, is that that bump out does not exist. So that was clearly removed at some but but it could have removed. It's hard was there, though. It's hard to say. Yeah. The survey shows it. The survey shows it, but it's a straight you know, as you can see in the photograph let's see. On the first page of the photographs, we have, the front of the garage, the side, and you see the side view shows, that large tree. The side view on the left side, that large tree is in the rear, And the fence is the property line approximately, you know. So The rear property line. Yeah. And then and as you lower that the lower picture in that same page is more of a close-up showing the rear of the garage with it's just a flat black a fat a flat, you know, rear wall. There's no bump out. Right. Yeah.
Yeah. Because you see in the survey the the the survey that we've submitted, you see that bump out there and it describes the two corners of that bump out. Now when was this survey done? Eighty one. Okay.
I know. And it's there's the property line is much much further. It's on the far side of that it's on the far side of that tree. That's where the fence is.
I'm looking at that same survey from 1981 and I'm noticing the neighbor to the left has a garage. It's got like a 2.4 setback. Lot 15 has a garage with a one foot setback.
I try I let me just say, I tried to acquire this the property the surveys of all the properties around. I did not get I did not get the property behind, but I did get the the survey, which I didn't submit to the property to the right, you know, which which shows that the garage of the neighbor to the right, that would be, what what number would that be if we're 90 Lot 41. Yes. Lot 41. If if I can hand these out if if you want, I made extra I had all these copies made, figuring it might come into discussion.
I I guess where I was going is it it looks like that neighborhood, there's a lot of very, very narrow setbacks. And I'm just curious whether either they're all predating the zoning or there was an earlier zoning code with a smaller setback.
You know, it's possible. This this survey I just handed out to you is Lot 41. Got it. And 40 we're Lot 42. And you see you see there it shows the two, you know, dimensions of the corners off, you know, in approximate. It's like three and change there. But it also shows, it seems to be all those garage, at least from this survey, a role in alignment to some extent. Yeah. And therefore, maybe there was a three foot there was a three foot limit at that point.
And this house is no longer a duplex. Sorry? Right. Is this house is no longer a duplex? No longer a duplex.
Yeah. I I did that years ago. So so what's what's the existing height of the garage?
Let's see. Notes. Just give me a sec.
Okay. The ridge line above the driveway well, it's a 141 inches. What is that, Ron? 12. Oh, under 12 feet. 34 Just under 12 feet. Yeah.
At the garage door, the driveway level. Right to the he wanna raise it three feet?
They wanna have more volume more of vault of a vaulted space in there, plus use a portion of it if you look at the plan. Let me go back to the plan.
Yeah. There's a section in the rear. There is still some design to be three-dimensional. The use of space is still in discussion, but a portion of the rear, maybe the one the the portion that aligns with this bathroom they would like to do back there up to that point would be at, like, an attic space that's accessed from the vaulted space.
Don't fall. Right? She's showing a shower. I mean, as far as being habitable space have a kitchen. There is gonna be a challenge with regard to making it habitable because the insulation, especially, the foundation is not, insulated or the perimeter, what you would do in a new structure. So, where there would be insulation would be the walls and the roof and the ceiling. So it'll be kind of like a three season room.
Existing existing walls hold this up? Hold up the addition? In other words, the existing frame? Well,
the right now, it does. I mean, right now, it's holding up a roof that's just lower. Right. So what's gonna happen really is the same wall heights with the the plate heights will not change. It's basically just gonna have a The loads steeper. Are projected to be a little bit more because it's gonna the loads
Yes. Will be a little higher because there's gonna be stuff in there that's not there now.
Well, right now right now, there's rafters, and there's also, like, kinda collars across the entire width. So as far as insulation value, there will be insulation and and a sheet rock layer as well. But there it's a I mean, it's a two by four wall Right. On 16 centers. Mhmm. A double plate at the top.
Seems like a lot of money to spend for a little extra storage space. I mean, that's I'm I'm trying to get my right? I mean, you're you're just getting a little more, and you're getting, like, a completely new roof. I try to rationalize
with my clients the things they want, and the things I think this is another subject to some extent, but I'm just personally, I'm an architect that gives people what they need, not necessarily what they want, and I'm trying to Right. I'm trying to guide any any client as to what is wise, what is unwise. Doesn't give a give them a lot, but I I suspect there isn't a space inside the house that does something. It's it it I mean, you could I mean, I think we are calling it recreation. So it'll be probably, there'll be a TV in there, I suspect, exercise equipment. Man cave. Maybe a dart board. I don't know. Right. But Yeah. The height is
Right. When we really get down to the detailing, there's there may be some skylights, you know, to make the space have a little more light in it. But, they will not have any, support. So the basically, the the main part of that garage, that section will have a, a ridge that's structural, that will need to be supported at the front and the back, and those details need to be worked out.
And neighbors were notified? About the pending up with the renewal? Well, this is new application. Okay. And
has your client have any discussions with the neighbors? Have you heard anything? I haven't heard
anything about and I'm surprised. I don't know what's what happened this evening about just
just not to worry about people that John, has he Forget about things. Indicated to you why he he's looking for a two year period of immense work? Well,
I don't I I sometimes do get discuss clients' financing measures that they need to take with certain projects, and it may be a matter of that or staging. They have a front porch, which obviously started working on, I believe, in could have been 2021. And, also, they also wanna do a an additional bath within the home, which which the plan is to have this all under one building permit. Basically, the con at least the the plan is. You know, I told my wife about my projects and she says maybe somebody just came into some money. I don't know. You know? I don't know. It seems to be something that
that will be a question for him the the the client to why. I mean, maybe because the porch project, they couldn't do it financially, and then that was you know, it expired a couple times. So
I've suggested some contractor, so it will not be him, him doing it. You know, I've suggested him start to price out each of these projects. And he did at the at the point at which initially he got the front porch variances. He was talking to contractors at the time, and then the project you got just got shelved. So don't necessarily pry into financing. I had a project, the yellow house with the purple door there over in, was it Wood Road or is it off the CET? That project was gonna be a $450,000 project, Tudor design, and they got the permit for it. Got the permit for it, and they couldn't get financing for it. And so they wound up having to do a $125,000 project. Right. And that's what happened there. That yellow house with the green purple door and the green trim. You know? So that was that was, like, the furthest, one of my projects where I did pry into their understanding of their their situation, what they were able or not able to do. And that came that what they did to that house came together in like two weeks.
Okay. So Any other questions for the applicants before we open the public hearing? Okay. Let's open the public hearing. Thank you, John. Anyone wanna speak from the public? Doesn't look like anyone's here. So we'll close the public hearing. And people's thoughts.
I don't have any problem. I mean, obviously, we we approved it before, and I don't I don't have a problem with that. I'm I I don't think we I mean, the garage is maybe a little bit of concern. I did I did think it was a half bath. Like, when you throw in a shower in there and make think, like, down the road. Could open the door to some shenanigans.
Put the pool in there. As as John had mentioned, one of the difficulties in making ADU is insulating the foundation. Mhmm. Usually, that might end up, like, putting out some slab in that that
I would I would just I mean, I'd like to point out he had to I'm not sure how long ago this happened, though. He had to replace the slab in that garage. Excuse me. Bless you. He had to replace the slab in that garage, and he did replace the slab. But in addition to that, his before approaching me on this project, he managed to leave a section of the slab, a rectangular shape, approximately the shape of that bathroom, and had a PVC pipe come from that location out toward to where the it it emerges from the garage, door where the garage door is. So he doesn't have to jackhammer his new slab? Yes. I mean, the slab is put down there. But without consulting with, you know, with me, I said, well, if I didn't know anything about this until after the fact. But the idea of it would have been a good time if you wanted to do this to insulate underneath the slab properly at the time. You know? So now you're dealing with a, you know, a slab that's not on grade. He did put something down. I think maybe half inch to three quarter of, insulation, but it's not in any way, you know, what you need.
I mean, it's part of the issue of the bathroom is not before us. Right. It's not it's not an EDU. Yeah. It's not Well, I And if and if he gets the bathroom as of right at some point, it's never gonna be before us. So it's and the use, I guess, we have to take it at face value.
Yeah. And and it really comes down to the height. You know, it's it's already too close to the property line, and it's gonna be, you know, more of a more visible to the neighbors. Do we know what the height is for the other garages?
Let me see what I got here. Is this application to isn't this application for the the raised roof to still fall under the 15 Yeah. I kinda have a Yes. It's not it's not a variance for the height. A couple pictures here. Well, it's it's Yeah.
It's it's not a variance for a height, but it it where he's raising it Right. The the the reason why he's doing a variance is because he's making it taller. Mhmm. And the original aberrance we granted
did not include it raising the roof. Well, we don't know if it was in the port. Oh, before. Yeah. It was No. The port. Oh, okay. It's just back area. This is something you can find, Jake. Not in the right. I mean, the the drawing to really look at this, to see really what the increase in encroachment on the on the the zone is is through looking at two things, where it's the last sheet of the architectural drawings a four, where number one first, my first thought was the cross section. And in the cross section, had dotted line showing the lower roof with the lower ridge line and us bringing the ridge up to 15. And if you think about it, there's a little triangle, you know, on the right side, you know, that's like there's an additional encroachment. But where there is more encroachment is when you look at the yard yard facing elevation, and you see, there's the five foot setback shown on the left side there. Right. And the dash line shows the ridge line as it is now. So we're going up to 15 feet. So that rectangle is the additional encroachment into yeah. That's so that's where the back ridge is really where there's most of the encroachment there. This
I mean, there's one photograph. The second page of photographs, it shows from the 2nd Floor shows another the two other garages of the lot, what's 41 and and the and the next one over. Right? And it doesn't look it doesn't look like in 41 is it 41, right, the next property? Doesn't look like that ridge is very high, but it looks like the the one after that Right. Looks higher. That could be 15 feet, from a Mhmm. This point of view. I think we need some sort of a letter from a neighbor directly
behind the garage. Then they're. Because raising you're going you're asking for it to get up, etcetera, but also raising the roof up will affect. How
The one behind. And the garage behind them is not buffering. It's directly in there. It's usable part of the yard.
Yeah. The neighbor's garage behind them is, like, is kind of in the other corner, but it's also it's even closer according to this survey here, the the the client survey, Hastings survey, you know, the Thor Thor's survey, you know, that rear of the neighbor's garage behind is closer than the actual
them. We could ask him if he can get letters or Right. I think we should go look at it too. We could table this one and just vote on the letter. You
Separate application. Are they separate? They're the same application. They We we bundled them as one application. There's two projects, but
since we're here, we just made it one application. Is there a process for voting on one and not the other?
I don't think it matters because as far as the submitting for a building permit, I'm not getting an urgency of any of any type. So a month would Yeah.
The applicant's not For the I mean, for this I mean, he may you know, he let that one lapse, you know, if anything, if the construction and the building permit process doesn't start within two years, I will I will personally remind him to renew Right. Renew these and be on time this this time. Right.
Okay. So we'll we'll schedule a site visit Okay. When we can all make it and and have the owner there. And if you can meet with Jan, it would be great. I'm surprised not here. When I when I don't get calls
Sorry? You know, letters of support from your client and the neighbors would also be discuss that with him as well. I'm sure he's talked I I don't know if there was a change of ownership to the property to the right recently. I believe the house was for sale, so I'm not sure if I think Matt brought up the property behind too. The the property behind. Seems to be. Yeah. The one with the the the really the one with the small setback.
Well, it's well, the roofline it's it's really not the roof line. It's like the roof line, the eave is obviously gonna go past the wall. Right. Forget the roof line part. Just But it's the wall the wall would be extended into into the three foot level. The wall will get taller in that area underneath the roof. So, I I you know, when I do the details for this, I I would suspect, you know, a rake, you know, front and back. You know, there's a even, there's a rake, maybe eight inches or so like that would go a little further from the wall. But it's that triangular section of wall that's just getting a little taller, which is it's Right. It's a to be, you know, technically correct. It it is encroaching slightly more.
And I don't know what days are are best for people. I try to do it usually Saturday me, Ron. Sure.
problem too. I'm gonna be out for the next three weekends. I'm not gonna be around.
could do this Saturday. I I could do Saturday morning. I can't do I'm leaving on around noon on on Saturday.
Yeah. Gotta be sent around. You can just send me a video. Won't be able to go. You wanna just send me a video or something?
Okay. We did the five factors for the other two applications. The only thing left to do is the minutes from the last meeting, the follow meeting. If you wanna take a quick look, if you haven't already.
So there are there are there are pigeons in the pigeons are in the coop. They're still there. They're still there. Yes. That is not code talk. That is
Yeah. Me too. Because I don't think this this section of the code is not gonna be that section of the code for more, I think. Change.
That's what it's Did you Watch the board of trustees meeting on the seventh I did last night. It was entertaining, better than TV.
back to focus here while we're still I don't have anything on the minutes. I'll make a motion to approve. Second the motion.