Regular Meeting
Town of Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals
August 2, 2021
Members Present: Bob Wormwood, Chairman
Brandon Cooney
Mike Dulmage
Robin Kiernan
Jennifer Knapp
Mr. Wormwood called the regular August meeting of the Town of Watertown Zoning Board of Appeal to order at 7:00 p.m.
Motion 4-21: Motion by Mr. Wormwood, seconded by Mrs. Knapp to accept the minutes of the July 12, 2021 meeting as written and distributed.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Motion 5-21: Motion by Mr. Wormwood, seconded by Mr. Dulmage to reschedule the regular September meeting of the Town of Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals to Monday, September 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. due to the Labor Day holiday.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Tnara Route 3, LLC – 20485 NYS Route 3 – Tax Map #82.11-1-36 – Variance request of road frontage for a 2 lot subdivision. Minimum frontage of 250′ per lot is required.
Legal notice was posted in the newspaper and evidence that adjacent property owners were notified was provided.
The public hearing was opened at 7:03 p.m. No one from the public wished to speak. The public hearing was closed at 7:04 p.m.
VARIANCE REQUEST
Tnara Route 3, LLC – 20485 NYS Route 3 – Tax Map #82.11-1-36 – Variance request of road frontage for a 2 lot subdivision – Minimum road frontage of 250′ per lot is required.
Rob Busler, LaFave, White & McGivern, on behalf of Tnara Route 3, LLC, spoke to the Board regarding variance criteria and why the applicant feels this is not a detriment to nearby properties. He asked the Board to grant a variance of road frontage for Tnara Route 3, LLC, 20485 NYS Route 3, Tax Map #82.11-1-36 for a 2 lot subdivision. He stated that the other options to modify the proposed plans are not feasible to the applicant. Discussion followed.
Mr. Wormwood stated that the issue at hand is that 250′ road frontage per lot is required and the total road frontage on the parcel the applicant is asking to be subdivided is approximately 291′ making this a very substantial variance request of road frontage, no hardship exist, and the property owner was given other options to modify the proposed plans. Furthermore, Mr. Wormwood stated that a precedent was set in 2015 when a variance request of road frontage for a subdivision just a short distance from this site was denied due to the request being substantial and that no hardship existed.
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Motion 6-21: Motion by Mr. Wormwood, seconded by Mr. Dulmage to deny the variance request of road frontage at 20485 NYS Route 3 for Tnara Route 3, LLC.
The board was individually polled:
Mr. Wormwood voted No due to the request being significant and that precedent was set in 2015 when another property owner a short distance from this site was also denied a significant variance request of road frontage.
Brandon Cooney voted No based on the variance request being significant and that regardless of a precedent being set, there are other feasible options available.
Mike Dulmage voted No based on the lack of road frontage.
Robin Kiernan voted No and concurred with all comments made by fellow board members.
Jennifer Knapp voted No due to lack of road frontage and other options being available.
The motion was denied.
Motion 7-21: Motion by Mr. Wormwood, seconded by Mrs. Knapp to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Susan Burdick
Secretary