Shandaken ZBA Hears Contentious Two-Family Home Proposal - Verizon Rehearing Effort Fails

SHANDAKEN – The Shandaken Zoning Board of Appeals heard a contentious proposal for a two-family home on St. Kathrin Drive on Tuesday, with numerous neighbors speaking in vehement opposition, citing the applicant’s past actions and the project's incompatibility with the single-family neighborhood. The board also approved a setback variance for a home addition on Cinder Road.

The board held a public hearing for an application seeking an area variance to construct a “mother-daughter” home on a 5.32-acre lot on St. Kathrin Drive. The property is in a residential 5-acre zone, which does not permit two-family dwellings on a lot of that size.

Multiple neighbors voiced strong objections, arguing that the applicant had a history of disregarding regulations.

“The builder has already demonstrated his total lack of regard for proper procedures by damaging and denuding the property and leaving a scar on our landscape,” another St. Kathrine Drive resident. “I resent the further destruction of the quality of life on our enjoyment of our privacy for the urbanization and commercialization of said property.”

Letters from other residents echoed these concerns, stating that the applicant had previously clear-cut the lot without permits and arguing that a two-family home would be out of character for the area.

“When exceptions are considered in well-established single-family home zoning, it opens up the path for more exceptions and that will forever hurt the value and change the face of the quiet family living our existing owners cherish,” one.

In response, the resident defended his project, stating that the home would have a walk-out basement apartment and that all necessary fill would be taken from the land itself. He argued that existing homeowners should not prevent new construction.

“As soon as they build their home, they want to stop all construction. That’s not right,” Papia said. “It’s not fair for everybody else.”

Following the contentious hearing, the board voted to table the application to allow members an opportunity to visit the property before making a decision.

In a separate, brief public hearing, the board heard an unopposed application for a 23-foot front-yard setback variance to construct an addition at 72 Cinder Road. The board later voted to approve the variance as submitted.

The board also addressed its previous denial of variances for a Verizon cell tower. A motion to rehear the application was made but failed to receive a second, leaving the denial in place.