MILLERTON — The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) continued its ongoing review of an application for variances for a building at 7-9 Main Street that would add residential units to an already nonconforming building and put more pressure on village parking.
The ZBA met on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Village Hall.
The application for two variances — on for a density increase and another for additional parking — has been studied by the ZBA for months after it was denied by the Planning Board in March of 2023 on size and parking issues after a year of deliberation.
Under Millerton zoning, a minimum of 5,000 square feet of lot area is required per dwelling unit, yet the building permit called for 636 square feet per unit. Second, under zoning, 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit are required, thus a proposed additional 6 units (to 12) would call for 9 additional spaces, yet none were proposed in the application.
Following the Planning Board’s denial, the ZBA held a public hearing on the application from Gvkgne Realty over the summer when residents and businesses expressed concerns and complaints about the lack of parking that the village already faces as well as specific problems related to parking on village streets.
Residents also addressed the nonconforming status of the existing units at the hearings. During the initial public hearing in May, one resident pointed to an inequity by observing that she was prevented from creating multiple dwelling units on South Center Street because of the Zoning Code’s parking requirements.
The ZBA’s discussion at last week’s meeting raised issues such as the fact that the building has failed a fire inspection, that there are holes in walls and that the stairs need work. The new owner has stated plans to renovate the building, and while ZBA members commented that there is no guarantee that approving a variance would result in physical improvments, there was consensus that the would prefer to see the building maintained and put in good working order.
ZBA members noted that parking remains a big problem aside from the request in this application.
“We are maxed out before we even get started,” said Delora Brooks, ZBA chair.
New board member Kelly Kilmer chimed: “How do we give people parking spaces that we don’t have?”
Parking is permitted for up to two hours during the day in front of the building. In winter months, there are restrictions on streets imposed by snow plowing requirements. One option mentioned during the meeting was parking on Century Boulevard, which is several blocks from the building.
The panel, which also includes members Suzanne Stevens, Ed Stillman and Claire Goodman, set its next meeting for Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall on North Elm Avenue to continue the ongoing review.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
