Village officials get request for zoning change
Village trustees are reviewing a request to change the zoning designation from B2 to R2 for up to six parcels on Teetsel Street.
The proposed change was discussed during a Village Board meeting Monday. Chestnut Hill Holding Group owner Richard Rothe said the new designation would allow him to construct 12 townhouses.
“That (B2) zoning really doesn’t allow for the effective residential development of the property,” he said.
“I went to the zoning board to request ... a use variance for (the parcels), but there’s very specific criteria that has to be met in order to be granted a use variance,” Rothe said. “It was pretty apparent that I wasn’t going to meet those criteria, and, if the zoning board even considered it, it would not be something that would hold up in court.”
The request is being made for one of two parcels that front Teetsel Street, but Rothe said the other parcels, which are landlocked, could also be included in the zoning change.
Rothe noted that the current zoning designation was set when the properties were part of a single parcel that fronted Ulster Avenue.
“The B2 zone is certainly appropriate for any property or parcel that has frontage on Ulster Avenue because some of the uses that are allowed in the B2 zone are things that you expect in a business zone,” he said. “But as far as these ... are parcels that don’t have frontage on Ulster Avenue, and, really, those parcels are more of a residential neighborhood and wouldn’t be appropriate for a B2 zone.”
Among permitted uses in the B2 zone are bowling alleys, schools, theaters, auto sales, banks, drinking establishments, restaurants, vehicle repairs, light assembly and fabrication facilities, and petroleum product storage.
Board members said they would review the steps necessary to amend the zoning law and begin the environmental review process.