Note:  The May 1 meeting of the Varick ZBA was very long and involved many speakers.  I publish these very short draft minutes just to alert the public to the action taken.  We expect the final minutes to be significantly longer.We aim to have official minutes approved by the ZBA in July of 2012.


Draft Unapproved Minutes from May 1, 2012:
A Public Hearing before the Town of Varick Zoning Board of Appeals was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 5 PM at the Varick Fire Hall on Route 96A in Varick, NY to consider the Application for an Area Variance submitted by Upstate Cellular Network, d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless regarding area setbacks as set forth in the Town of Varick Zoning Code 3.11.3 (F) for the proposed construction of a telecommunications facility, Fayette Relo Cell Site, at the corner of Route 96 and Route 336. 


The ZBA heard from members of the public and representatives of the applicant and the Town of Varick. Upon motion, the ZBA voted that it should hear the area variance issue associated with this application, despite some controversy over the nature of the referral to the ZBA from the Planning Board and questions about the ZBA’s authority over the applicant’s use permit details.


The ZBA then heard from members of the public and representatives of the applicant and the Town of Varick.  The applicant described the physical aspects of the proposed use and made its technical experts and engineers available to answer the Board’s questions and questions from the public.


The ZBA adjourned with a plan to hear the remaining issues related to the proposed area variance at another meeting, to be held as soon as reasonably possible.