CORRESPONDENCE: None.
CLERICAL BILL: Motion by J. Commendatore, second by G. Havican to pay the clerical bill. Three members in favor; G. Havican abstained. Motion to approve carries.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion made by M. Atkins, seconded by J. Commendatore to approve ZBA minutes of February 24, 2003. Three votes in favor with one abstention. Motion to approve carries.
NEW BUSINESS:
a.) Rene Grenier, Katherine O’Grady, William & David Rek, 32 Rek Lane. David Rek represented the applicants. Application for a variance of the minimum 150-foot street frontage requirement for a residential lot. Mr. Rek stated that parcel 32 Rek Lane was originally established as a 60-foot wide access way to his rear abutting 16+ acre property. With the recent development of the “West Ridge Estates” subdivision and Rachel Ann Court, street access to the abutting property is now possible via Rachel Ann Court. Mr. Rek is seeking a 90-foot street frontage variance to bring 32 Rek Lane into compliance with zoning and afford him the opportunity to construct a single family house here. Motion by M. Atkins, seconded by J. Commendatore to accept Application # 03-2003 of Rene Grenier, Katherine O’Grady, William & David Rek for a 90-foot street frontage variance for 32 Rek Lane. Unanimous. A public hearing on this application was scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 7:10 p.m.
b.) Victor & Filipa Silva, 6 Dorothy Avenue. Application for a variance of the 25-foot side property line setback and 50-foot rear property line setback requirement to construct an addition and attached deck. Mr. Silva stated the lot size is less than ½ acre and the house is located on the left side leaving little room for expansion without the need for a variance. M. Atkins asked how long Mr. Silva has lived in the house. Mr. Silva responded approximately two years. J. Commendatore asked if it is possible to place the addition in the back thus eliminating the need for a sideline variance. Mr. Silva stated this would be difficult given the shape of the house. Motion by M. Atkins, seconded by J. Commendatore to accept application # 04-2003 of Victor and Filipa Silva for a 10-foot side property line variance and a 10-foot rear property line variance at 6 Dorothy Avenue to construct a house addition and rear deck. Unanimous. A public hearing on this application was scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at 7:20 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
7:13 p.m. ZBA Application #02-2003 of Peter Conroy (Conroy Development Corp), 145 Cheshire Road. F. Harkins read into the record the “Notice of Public Hearings” for this application as it appeared in the Waterbury Republican American on March 14th and 21st, 2003. Mr. Conroy is seeking a 15-foot variance of the 50-foot rear property line setback requirement to extend a portion of the existing house foundation footprint. Mr. Conroy indicated his intention is to demolish the existing house which is in very poor structural condition on this small 15,000 S.F. parcel and replace it with a new raised ranch structure. No part of the new foundation or house would be closer to the property lines than the existing structure, but because the existing house is now within the 50-foot rear setback, any improvement would also be within the same 50-foot setback. Fred Harkins asked for comments from the public. Kevin Murphy, 143 Cheshire Road asked where the new house would be located and was satisfied that the new house would be in the same proximate footprint as the existing house. Mr. Murphy stated that demolishing the existing house and building a new house as a replacement would be a definite improvement to the neighborhood. There were no further comments from the public and Fred Harkins closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. Motion by M. Atkins, seconded by J. Commendatore to approve application # 02-2003 of Peter Conroy a 15-foot rear property line setback variance for a new house to replace the existing house at 145 Cheshire Road. Unanimous. Reasons: The new structure would not encroach closer to abutting properties than the existing house and would improve the character of the neighborhood.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by M. Atkins, seconded by J. Commendatore to adjourn at 7:33 p.m. Unanimous.