COVENTRY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2018 CALL TO ORDER: By: Twerdy Time: 7:01 p.m. Place: Town Hall Annex ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT REGULAR MEMBERS: Elizabeth Bauer, Vice Chairperson Carol Chipkin Suzanne Pollinger Cheryl Ann Resha, Secretary Claire Twerdy, Chairperson ALTERNATE MEMBERS: William Bonney Courtney Rossignol STAFF: Lisa Thomas Mark Landolina, ZEO Heidi Leech, Land Use Permit Tech READING OF LEGAL NOTICES: Resha, Secretary, read the legal notice. EPLANATION OF PROCEDURES Twerdy, Chairperson, explained the procedures to the public. ZBA-2018-08-21 Minutes 1 of 5
Bonney and Thomas were seated for Bauer and Chipkin. Chipkin arrived at 7:05 and was seated. Thomas was unseated Twerdy explained for the record that she is supposed to seat Alternate Members in a rotating fashion and she will do that beginning alphabetically. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. #18-03Z Application of Clairmont Remodeling, requesting a variance of Section 4.04A to construct a 22 x 24 carport at 85 Broad Way (Assessor s Map 5, Block 25, Lot 39) GR80 Zone. Jared Clairmont of Clairmont Remodeling, the Contractor was present. Christopher Hopke, the property owner was also present. Mr. Clairmont explained the current situation at the property and the reason that they are requesting a variance to construct a carport. He said the Town owns the first 30 feet from the street of his client s property though his client maintains the property. This would place the carport a little more than 50 feet from the pavement which would actually put the carport approximately 16 feet from the front property line with the Town property. Mr. Hopke stated that due to the land contours he doesn t really have any other options to put the carport in another location without significant land excavation and clearing of trees. He said they like parking their cars in this existing, paved location, so he asked Mr. Clairmont to build a carport there. Mr. Clairmont confirmed that the proposed area is already a paved parking area; they just want to build an open-sided carport to keep the snow off the vehicles, which are already parked in this area. Bonney questioned if Clairmont was saying that the Town or his client owns the first 30 feet of the property. Twerdy stated that she could answer that because she pulled the subdivision map and it shows that the Town doesn t own part of his property, there is just a 30-foot space between the pavement edge and where his property line starts. Clairmont said that the Town owns the property but they don t do anything for it. His client does all the maintenance, mowing, stonewalls, branches and upkeep. That is all he was trying to say. Bonney said that is typical of all properties in Coventry whether a Town or State road. A homeowner maintains a certain section of land for the Town or the State. ZBA-2018-08-21 Minutes 2 of 5
Mr. Clairmont said Hopke s land doesn t start until the pin and the carport would be approximately 16 feet further in from the located pin. Mr. Hopke took detailed measurements over the weekend and drew up a revised plan which was passed around to members. Mr. Hopke said the carport is 16 feet in from the pin, 55 feet off from the neighbor s property and 75 feet off of the Town of Coventry s property to the left side. This would put the carport 58 feet from the street. Resha asked if they were looking for a 34-foot front-yard variance. Mr. Clairmont said correct. Members asked for more details - how big the carport was going to be and what dimension would be fronting on the driveway. Mr. Clairmont answered that it would be 22 x 24 to fit two cars, one story tall and that the 24- foot side would front the driveway. It will be completely open-sided with roofing and siding used to match the house. Members asked about the possibility of putting the carport to the right side of the house (looking at it from the front) would there be enough room to put it there without a variance? Mr. Clairmont said that a variance would still be required for at least the side-yard setback. He wasn t sure about the front yard. Mr. Hopke explained that there would need to be a large amount of tree removal and excavation to match elevation. There is a major tree on the property line with the neighbor that would interfere with placement of the carport. There is also a deck, sidewalk and landscaping that would all need to be removed. Mr. Clairmont said from his standpoint, they are not disrupting the footprint of the driveway or anything else by putting the carport over an existing piece of paved driveway as proposed. If they put it on the other side they would need to move the walkway, move the deck, remove the trees and extend the driveway. It would be a lot more of a disturbance. Twerdy asked Staff, ZEO Landolina, if the location of the carport is acceptable in relation to the well location. Landolina confirmed that the requirement is at least 10-feet of separation and by way of a site visit, he confirmed that there is between 10 and 11 feet of separation. Landolina also said that during his field inspection he measured and confirmed that the proposed location of the carport is 16-20 feet from the front property line pin and that from the pin to the edge of the street is 30 feet. A member asked staff if he saw sideline issues as well. Landolina said yes, there is no room for the carport on the right side of the house without needing a sideline setback variance. ZBA-2018-08-21 Minutes 3 of 5
Audience of Citizens: Ed Miller 101 Broad Way said he is the neighbor to the right (looking at the house) of Chris Hopke. He doesn t have a problem with the carport. He s going to be looking at the cars anyway. Chris takes really good care of his property. The hearing is closed. Motion: Move to approve application #18-03Z Application of Clairmont Remodeling, requesting a 34-foot front yard variance of Section 4.04A to construct a 22 x 24 carport at 85 Broad Way (Assessor s Map 5, Block 25, Lot 39) GR80 Zone. Hardship: Unique topography of the property. By: Bonney Seconded: Chipkin For: Chipkin, Twerdy, Resha, Pollinger Against: Bonney The application is approved. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Approval of Minutes June 19, 2018 Motion: Move to approve the minutes of the June 19, 2018, meeting. With the following corrections: Page 3, first paragraph, second line - change if to is and third line, change hardships to hardship Page 3, fourth paragraph, third line - change issues to issue By: Resha Seconded: Bonney For: Chipkin, Twerdy, Resha, Pollinger, Bonney Against: None ZBA-2018-08-21 Minutes 4 of 5
ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Move to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. By: Twerdy Seconded: Resha For: Chipkin, Twerdy, Resha, Pollinger, Bonney Against: None Respectfully Submitted, Heidi A. Leech Heidi A. Leech, Land Use Permit Tech, Substitute Recording Clerk PLEASE NOTE: These minutes are not official until approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals at the next Board meeting. Please see the next Board meeting minutes for approval or changes to these minutes. ZBA-2018-08-21 Minutes 5 of 5