TOWN OF GRANBY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Meeting Minutes
March 27, 2012
AGENDA: Houle Company, LP Public Hearing
Regular
Monthly Meeting
ROLL CALL: Peter
Holmes present – Chairman
Peter
LeoGrande present
Linda
Fadden excused
Sam
Trepasso present
Michael French absent
Also Present: Jackie Frost for the Houle Company.
Chairman Holmes called the
meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
PUBLIC HEARING
Houle Company, LP – 307
Rathburn Road, Lot # 34, Fulton
Tax Map # 217.00-04-04
Chairman
Holmes opened the Public Hearing at 7:02 pm and read the legal notice into the
record. He then asked the applicant to
explain the request for a variance of the front setback requirement. Jacqi
Frost introduced herself as a representative for the Houle Company and
explained that she was a last minute replacement for John Houle who had broken
his leg and was unable to appear. He was
reachable by phone if necessary but she stated that he was on pain medication. Chairman Holmes replied that he would speak
with Mr. Houle at another time when he was better and asked Ms. Frost to
proceed with what she knew of the application.
Ms. Frost explained that the Houle Company had purchased several
different manufactured home parks in the Granby and Fulton area several years
ago and various family members have controlled various parks over the years –
some improved and some not. Recently the
company had been restructured and John Houle had been appointed the controlling
manager of Houle Company LP. Many
efforts have been underway to improve the appearance, maintenance and housing
stock within these properties and this 26 x 60 home is one example. An engineer (Russ Getman), CEO Dave Rearick
and John Houle had met at the site and approved the use of the existing
supports. The need for a variance was
stated by the CEO when trying to obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy
for the installed doublewide. She
concluded by stating that thousands of dollars had been spent to complete the
structure after receiving a building permit from the Town, and the buyers are
living there - moving it would be costly, a hardship. Chairman Holmes stated that the applicants are
requesting a variance for relief of being too close to the road when the
property is over 17 acres – how does a home get placed too close to the road on
a property that size? The process of
getting to this point needs to be explained.
Ms. Frost replied that the site location was chosen because the concrete
structure to support a home already existed.
The supplied site plan map showed the location of several lots with
either existing homes or gravel pads, and only 3 of the 35 lots are the size of
a doublewide. The Board members had only
just received the site plan map and after some review, Member Sam Trepasso
asked
if
the water and septic had been completed, and if the power was connected? Yes, everything had been operating and they
therefore were requesting a temporary C of O to allow the buyers in when they
learned they would need to seek a variance.
Member Trepasso also commented that the overhead utility lines located
near many structures appeared too close for current standards. The distance between the road line and the
home is noted at 22’ on the site plan and 37.5’ on the variance request
application – a discrepancy that needs to be corrected. Jacqi Frost had spoken to Mr. Houle and
confirmed that a building permit had been issued 2 years ago and a C of O had
recently been issued. Chairman Holmes
stated that Rathburn Road has a rather bad history of problems and more
information from Mr. Houle and from The Granby Codes Office will be needed
before the Board could consider granting the request, the Board Members
agree. The distance between the home and
the road line needs to be determined and the reason why the house is located
where it is needs to be clarified for the next meeting. Chairman Holmes stated that the Public
Hearing would remain open so that further information could be obtained.
* * * * * * * * * *
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
The
Regular Monthly meeting was called to order at 7:19 pm.
HOULE
COMPANY, LP – Some discussion ensued amongst the Board Members regarding the
building permit process and the lack of any documentation accompanying an
application signed by a CEO. The
secretary was asked to send Codes a letter requesting information and their
presence at the April 24th meeting in regards to this application. A general request for a CEO to attend all
future meetings should also be added - letter to be copied to the Town
Board. The secretary will research
Planning files for any previous approvals for this property.
IRON
HORSE SOLUTIONS/TODD GOLTHWAIT – The applicant had received a conditional
approval for a sign height variance at the February meeting and hadn’t been
heard from since. The applicant needed
to supply a letter from the property owner giving him permission to request the
variance before the approval would be processed. Chairman Holmes told the secretary to contact
Mr. Goldthwaite and inform him that the letter was needed by the April meeting
otherwise the request would be denied by default.
NEW BUSINESS:
MICHAEL
ACKER – An application for appeal was received but is incomplete, secretary
will contact applicant and request missing information and process for April
meeting if possible.
A motion to approve the meeting minutes for February 28, 2012 was moved
by Chairman Peter Holmes and seconded by Member Petr LeoGrande, all were in
favor, motion carried.
.
With
no other business before the Board a motion to adjourn at 7:49 pm was moved
by Member Peter LeoGrande and seconded by Member Sam Trepasso , all were in
favor, motion carried.
Respectfully
submitted by:
Lisa Somers, ZBA secretary
