3 Sheds, 3 Decks, 1 Hot Tub and a Pool Cabana

The July 22 TOW Zoning Board Meeting had a series of Area Variances to review -- all involving requests for set-back variances to the required Town Zoning Code.

Public Hearings - no public comments in any of the public hearings

Brothers Road - an applicant requested a variance of 8.53 feet on .77 acres for the construction of a rear deck - Granted

Hi View Road - an applicant requested a variance of 15 feet for a 10'x20' shed on 1.2 acres - (pie shaped lot) - Granted (the ZBA noting that if the setbacks were adhered to, the shed would be in an inconvient spot in the middloe of the property.

Gold Road - an applicant requested a variance of 9 feet to legalize a 10'x26' shed on 1.2 acres - Granted - the board noting the quality of the shed and that it was well placed on the property.

Discussion (requiring a ZBA visit and a Public Hearing at the next ZBA meeting)

Sachson Place - a variance of 3.2 feet required on .51 acres - to replace an existing deck with stairs.

Lake Oniad Drive - requesting a variance for a 6 foot fence in the front yard - to allow privacy for a Hot Tub installed in the front yard -- because the back of the property is a wetland -- the Hot Tub/Fence in installed in the "front yard" - need a variance to the code where no structure is allowed in a "front yard" as well as the variance for the fence height.

Old Hopewell Road - the applicant owns 2.67 acres .. as well as the adjoining property. The 13'x20' pool cabana which is 192 square feet is 16.1 feet from the property line, where 50 feet are required - thus a variance to legalized the cabana of 33.9 feet is required.... even though the applicant owns the adjacent property. There was also a question about the number of vehicles, in various stages of repair, that are on the property. The applicant was represented by an attorney.

The board then paused for an attorney/client meeting to prepare for the next discussion.

When they returned, to discuss a property on Spook Hill Road - where the applicant an provide 11.7 feet for a new front porch/deck - requiring a variance of 23.3 feet. The ZBA granted this variance with a number of conditions - primarily that the siding of the house is completed in six months in a manner "customary for a Town of Wappinger neighborhood", meaning vinyl, hardy board, clapboard or cedar shake in a muted color. The applicant is to submit their plans to the ZBA at the August 26 meeting. The other "code issues' will not impede the the applicant's getting this matter resolved and will be handled at a future date. The ZBA attorney reminded everyone that no confrontation or escalation among neighbors is to happen, that if there are any issues, the ZBA/Building Department will manage. The applicant was represented by an attorney who represented his client as willing to work with the town and clear up misunderstandings.