Altamont ZBA to hear Stewart’s variance requests on April 9
ALTAMONT — With its zoning change from the village board established, Stewart’s will be seeking five variances from the Altamont Zoning Board of Appeals in order to construct a new shop at its location on Altamont Boulevard.
At its April 9 meeting, the zoning board will hear Stewart’s requests for:
— A variance for 17 feet of relief for a new fuel canopy and 89 feet of relief for a new store on the Altamont Boulevard side of the lot;
— A variance for 18 feet of relief for a new fuel canopy on the Helderberg Avenue side of the parcel;
— Side setback relief of 110 feet from 111 Helderberg Ave. for a new fuel canopy;
— Eighty-eight feet of relief for lot width; and
— An interpretation regarding parking.
On Dec. 12, the Altamont Village Board voted, 3 to 2, to rezone from residential to commercial 107-109 Helderberg Ave., paving the way for Stewart’s to build a new shop on the site.
Last month’s fiercely contested village election returned two incumbent trustees to office who had voted in favor of the rezone.
On Jan. 28, Stewart’s had presented to the village’s planning board its concept for the parcel. The size and siting of the proposed building were among the chief issues for the planning board.
“The location of this building does not fit the criteria of [the zoning],” Tim Wilford, the board’s chairman, told Chuck Marshall in January. Marshall works in land development for Stewart’s.
Marshall had two options, Wilford said.
He could take his plan, as is, to the zoning board and make a case for why he needs a variance to build the new shop closer than current zoning allows, or Marshall could take the planning board’s feedback and come up with a new site plan that conforms to the current zoning.
Marshall told The Enterprise this week that on April 9, Stewart’s will be presenting a project that is a little of both. The size of the building has been decreased by about 10 percent, Marshall said, from about 3,700 square feet to 3,340 square feet.
Marshall said that seeking variances was Stewart’s best course because, without relief, there would be no other way to develop the site.
Comments
Where could you find such good neighbors anywhere else. They serve our community, so we don't have to drive all the way to Guilderland for daily products and they hire local people. Stewart's has served our community for over 30 years and is a good neighbor. Lets keep Stewart's in our back yard.