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Home My WebLink AboutZBAA-25-22 203 Westview Lnithaca journal Govt Public Notices Originally published at ithacajournal.com on 10/06/2025 Town of Ithaca Notice of Public Hearing Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday,October 14,2025 @ 6:00 p.m. 215 N.Tioga St. ZBAA-25-22 Appeal of Vishalsingh Chaudhari &Vandana Raghavan,owners of 203 Westview Ln.,Ithaca NY;are seeking relief from Town of Ithaca Code sections 270-71E (Yard regulations)and 270-72 (Building area).Town of Ithaca Code section 270-71E requires accessory buildings to have a side or a rear yard setback of 3’,where the applicant is seeking to have a reduced side yard setback of less than 3’.Town of Ithaca Code section 270-72 requires a maximum building area of 20%,where the applicant is seeking to exceed the maximum building area identified.The property is located in the Medium Density Residential District Zone,Tax Parcel Number 58.-2-39.621. ZBAA-25-23 Appeal of Unity House of Cayuga County,Owners of 906 Danby Rd.,Ithaca NY,Maurice Coit,Agent:is seeking relief from Town of Ithaca Code section 270-71E (Yard regulations).Town of Ithaca Code section 270-71E requires accessory buildings to occupy the rear yard,where the applicant is seeking approval for an accessory building to be located in the front yard.The property is located in the Medium Density Residential District Zone,Tax Parcel Number 40.-3-5. For public convenience,the meeting can be attended virtually via the ZOOM platform. Comments on the appeal(s)can be made in person or via the ZOOM platform during the meeting.You can also email comments or questions up until 3pm the day of the meeting to Codes@townithacany.gov.All comments become part of the official record. Links to the full materials and ZOOM are available on the Town’s website, www.townithacany.gov under “Public Meetings”. HOW TO ACCESS ZOOM: Virtually -Go to www.zoom.us -Click Join Meeting -enter Meeting ID 852-5587-1576 - the Host will let you in.By Phone -Call (929)436-2866 -You will be prompted to enter the Meeting ID:852-5587-1576 -the Host will let you in. Marty Moseley Director of Code Enforcement 10/6/2025 11728415 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 S Town of Ithaca October 3,2025 ZBAA-25-22 Zoning Board of Appeals Area Variance Application Status:Active Submitted On:8/21/2025 Primary Location 203 Westview Ln Unit Vishalsingh Chaudhari & Vandana Raghavan Ithaca,NY 14850 Owner Applicant X Vishalsingh Chaudhari J 607-319-1850 @ cvisnis@gmail.com A 203 Westview Ln Ithaca,NY 14850 Vishalsingh Chaudhari & Vandana Raghavan 203 Westview Ln Ithaca,NY 14850 Internal Only-Review A Tax Parcel No. 58.-2-39.621 Is Planning Dept.Approval Required? Yes A Is Engineering Dept.Approval Required?A Is a GML-239 Review Required? Yes Yes A GML-239 Reason for Review*A Type of Variance The right of way of any existing or proposed Area Variance county or state road A Appearance Date for Variance 10/14/25 https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 1/10 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 A Variance Code Language ZBAA-25-22 Appeal of 203 Westview Ln.,Ithaca NY,Owners,Vishalsingh Chaudhari &Vandana Raghavan;are seeking relief from Town of Ithaca Code sections 270-71E (Yard regulations)and 270- 72 (Building area) Town of Ithaca Code section 270-71E requires accessory buildings to have a side or a rear yard setback of 3',where the applicant is seeking to have a reduced side yard setback.Of less than 3'Town of ithaca Code section 270-72 requires a maximum building area of 20%,where the applicant is seeking to exceed the maximum building area identified. The property is located in the Medium Density Residential District Zone,Tax Parcel Numbers:58.-2- 39.621 A Variance Code Section 270-71E and 270-72 Internal Tasks to be Completed A Meeting Result (First Appearance) Deadline for Hearing Notice to Journal 10/2/2025 A Neighbor Notification Letters Were Sent 10/06/2025 A Material Packets Sent to ZBA Members 10/06/2025 Materials For GML-239 Were Sent 09/16/2025 Public Hearing Notice Was Sent 10/02/2025 A Date Sign Was Picked-up 10/02/2025 https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 2/10 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 Historical Only A Address affiliated with request A Status Applicant's Information Applicant is*Is the primary point of contact for application different than the applicant?*Property Owner No Description Brief Description of Variance Request* Our property has shed from the time before our home purchase (2021).The shed is located in the East corner of the lot (Front/side).There is no other viable location for the shed,due to a small size of the lot and steep slope in small backyard.Shed has no utility connection.The shed has existed since 2013,at least,and we are not seeking any new modification.We are seeking relief from the zoning requirement. Area Variance Criteria Form 1.Will an undesirable change be produced in the character of the neighborhood or be a detriment to nearby properties?* No https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 3/10 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 Reasons: The shed exists since at least 2013 based on google map images and no new modification is sought.The shed is on the distant side of the lot from the main road.On the back side of the shed there are trees,mostly hiding it from sight. 2.Can the benefit sought by the applicant be achieved by a feasible alternative to the variance?* No Reasons: There is no other viable location for the shed due to small lot size and steep grade in the small backyard. 3.Is the requested variance substantial?* No Reasons: 4.Would the variance have an adverse impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood?* No Reasons: The shed sits on the (end of a)paved driveway. https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 4/10 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 5.Is the alleged difficulty self-created?* No Reasons: The shed pre-existed the purchase of the property. Affidavit The UNDERSIGNED respectfully submit this application requesting an appearance before the Zoning Board of Appeals.By filing this application,I grant permission for members of The Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals or Town staff to enter my property for any inspection(s)necessary that are in connection with my application.I acknowledge,that completed applications are scheduled on a first-come first-serve basis and that all documents ideally be submitted forty-five (45)days advance of the proposed meeting date, together with the required application fee.Failure to do so may result in a delay in my hearing. Digital Signature* Q vishalsingh chaudhari Aug 21,2025 Meeting Date 08/21/2025 PAYMENT INFORMATION After submission,Code Department Administration will review the application and materials provided.After review,and email with instructions for paying the fee online with credit card or E-check will be sent to the applicant. If it is preferred to pay by check,cash or money order: *Mail to Code Enforcement,Town Hall 215 N.Tioga St,Ithaca,NY 14850 *Drop off during business hours to Town Hall M-F 8-4 *Place in locked box next to the door on the Buffalo St side of Town Hall https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 5/10 10/3/25,12:11 PM ZBAA-25-22 Attachments Record Activity Vishalsingh Chaudhari started a draft Record 08/21/2025 at 11:12 am https://ithacany.workflow.opengov.eom/#/explore/records/38672/details 6/10 A Outlook ZBAA-25-22 Chaudhari and Raghavan 203 Westview Lane From Jeff F <kinaser@yahoo.com> Date Fri 10/10/2025 4:23 PM To Codes <codes@townithacany.gov> Dear ZBA, I am in favor of granting the variance request for 203 Westview Lane. Residing on Westview Lane with a direct view of the property and shed,the currently placed shed appears to be well kept and shaded in part by vegetation.I can attest to the uneven grade and steep terrain of some backyard lots;this is especially true for 203 Westview's smaller,oddly shaped,rather steep lot.Having viewed the submitted package, there doesn't appear to be any other location on the property to relocate this shed. While some may consider the requested variance substantial,the alternative would be much more substantial,such as leveling the back yard grade or cutting down vegetation.And since the shed has existed in its same location since at least 2013,I would have no issue voting in favor of granting variance. Thank you. Sincerely, Jeff Fearn 211 Westview Lane Vishal Chaudhari <cvisnis@gmail.com> RE: Pre-site Inspection at 203 Westview Ln./Follow Up Solar Permit Application SOL- 25-6 Dana Magnuson <DMagnuson@townithacany.gov>21 August 2025 at 10:40 To: Vishal Chaudhari <cvisnis@gmail.com> Cc: "walker@halcoenergy.com" <walker@halcoenergy.com> Hello Vishal, It was nice speaking with you on the phone yesterday. 203 Westview Lane is located in a Medium Density Residential zone. Regarding the shed located in the front yard per Ithaca Town Code Chapter 270 Zoning Article IX Medium Density Residential Zones 270-71 Yard Regulations E. Accessory buildings. [Amended 8-13-2012 by L.L. No. 11-2012; 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017] (2) All other accessory buildings (except garages, and except woodsheds meeting the requirements of Subsection G below) may not occupy any open space other than a rear yard. (3) Accessory buildings (including garages, woodsheds, and buildings occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit), in the aggregate, may occupy not more than 40% of the thirty-foot rear yard setback required by Subsection B above. (4) Accessory buildings (except for garages and buildings occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit) shall be not less than three feet from any side or rear lot line. Any accessory building, other than a garage or a building occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit, on a corner lot shall be not less than five feet from the rear lot line. Options are: 1. Relocate the shed to the required rear yard or 2. Apply for a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) area variance for the shed to remain in the front yard (application link below) https://ithacany.portal.opengov.com/categories/1084/record-types/6461 Please submit this email for the required Determination/Denial Letter in the ZBA application. The Town does have Building Permit HWCC-21-51 (2021-0443) on file for the heat pump installation. The wood stove also requires a Building Permit application https://ithacany.portal. opengov.com/categories/1071/record-types/6534 After the applications have been submitted and/or the shed has been relocated I can issue Halco Solar Building Permit SOL-25-6. M Gmail Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Dana Magnuson Senior Code Enforcement/Electrical Town of Ithaca 215 N.Tioga St. Ithaca, NY 607-273-1783 ext.131 dmagnuson@townithacany.gov www.town.ithaca.ny.us From: Vishal Chaudhari <cvisnis@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 9:30 AM To: Dana Magnuson <DMagnuson@townithacany.gov> Subject: Inspection at 203 westview Ln **WARNING** This email comes from an outside source. Please verify the from address, any URL links, and/or attachments. Any questions please contact the IT department Hello Ms. Magnuson, Thank you for inspecting our property yesterday for the solar project that we are quite excited about. Our solar contractor received the feedback from you and has asked us to sort out a couple of outstanding issues holding up the permit. I wanted to get your guidance on how to resolve this at the earliest. - Regarding heat pump: The heat pump was installed in the year 2021, which was a bit challenging year considering labor and parts shortage due to COVID. Our original contractor, after extensive delays, balked at completing the project, despite having the equipment at hand. He had secured the Building Permit #2021-0443. We could find another electrician who would complete the project using the equipment that the first contractor had ordered. He completed the work as per permit requirements (removed the storage heaters for amperage). But he refused to do the paperwork for both the tax credit (said it was a scam on govt. and he would instead charge us less) and the county permit. I couldn't close the building permit under the circumstances. - About the shed - It existed when we bought the house in 2021. During inspection of the property for the heat pump, the shed was not flagged. The shed doesn't have any electrical or plumbing connections. And a non-expert reading tells me that it might be exempt from the permit requirements. I would be happy to set this right. I also hope to do this quickly. This project is already past the expected finish date of our contract with Halco, and it hasn't even started. Delays are accruing an irrecoverable cost. But perhaps waiting to get the green power is even harder. Hoping to hear from you. Thank you! Vishal Chaudhari 203 Westview Ln, Ithaca 607-319-1850 Building Permit 2021-0443.pdf 3182K Town of Ithaca Inspection Report Inspection: Review - Code Enforcement/Zoning Dept. Inspector: Marty Moseley Inspection Date: Oct 1, 2025 Record: Zoning Board of Appeals Area Variance Application #ZBAA-25-22 Location: 203 Westview Ln, Unit Vishalsingh Chaudhari & Vandana Raghavan, Ithaca, NY 14850 Applicant: Vishalsingh Chaudhari BLD-Follow up Overall Result: Pass Overall Remarks: The side yard appeared to be about 8-10" from the side of the shed/accessory building and rear yard property line appears to be approximately 38" from the accessory/shed building. The area variance will need to reﬂect the building area and the side yard setback. 10/2/25, 6:05 AM OpenGov https://ithacany.workﬂow.opengov.com/#/inspect/inspection-report/21821 1/1 In 1986 a cluster subdivision was approved by the Town Planning Board. This subdivision included what is now known as 201 and 203 Westview Lane. The original cluster subdivision approval did not include the current lot configuration. The lot was originally known as lot 44, with the dotted line indicating a future lot line. 1986 approved subdivision In April of 2000 the Planning Board approved the current lot configuration for 201 and 203 Westview Lane 2000 approved subdivison The new lot configuration then placed the garages facing the side yard and not facing the right of way. Per Town Code section 270 -5 a front yard is defined as follows: The yard between the street right-of-way line and the front facade of the principal building, extended from each rearmost exterior corner of the front facade to the adjacent side lot line (This definition was amended in 2007). The right of way does not appear to face, what one may consider, the façade of the building. Based on the lot confi guration and the definition for front yard, the front yard appears to be the lot line between 201 and 203 Westview Lane identified as being 114.31’ in length. The plats and subdivisions that were approved do not seem to identify the “yards” and they do not appear to identify the setbacks that were approved. Based on the March 4, 1986 Planning Board Minutes, where the Grandview Subdivision was approved, (pg. 27 of the minutes) condition #7 of the resolution states that the accessory buildings are required to comply with the underlying “R15” district. The “R15” district is now the Medium Density Residential (MDR) zone district. This would require the acceory building to comply with all requirements, such as but not limited to sections 270-71E and 207-72. The total building area does not comply with the MDR zone district, nor did it at the time of construction. Due to the resolution condition requiring the accessory building to comply with the MDR zone requirements (270-72) this would require the building area not to exceed 20%, where the applicant is proposing to have a building area of 24% with the additional 10’x10’ shed. In addition, the accessory building also would need a side yard setback variance due to section 270-71E requiring a side or rear yard setback of 3’ where the existing side ayrd setback is approximately 10”. Prepared by Marty Moseley Town of Ithaca Code Enforcement Department 10/2/25 Dear Sir/Madam, We purchased our first home at 203 Westview Lane, Ithaca, in 2021. At the time of purchase, the property already included a shed, which we have recently learned does not fully comply with current zoning requirements. Based on historical Google Earth imagery, the shed has been in place since at least 2013. Since moving in, we have found the shed to be highly useful for storage and organization, and it has become especially important for our family after the birth of our child in 2021. Unfortunately, our property has one of the smallest and most irregular parcel shapes in the neighborhood, which limits our ability to relocate the shed. The side yard is too narrow, and the backyard is both small and steeply sloped, with many established trees. As a result, there is no practical alternative location on the property where the shed could be moved without significant hardship. Removing the shed would also create an unnecessary loss of a functional structure that has served the property for over a decade. The shed is minimally visible, located at the far end of our driveway, and largely screened from public view. It is noticeable only to the neighbor with whom we share the driveway. Given these circumstances, we respectfully request zoning relief in the form of a variance to allow the shed to remain in its current location. Sincerely, Vishal Chaudhari Workspaces CONNECTEXPLORER cog 205 Search by Address 203 westview Search results (1)Options 203 Westview Ln,Ithaca,NY 14850 MAY sn I so Lot K*Ttie/lirJF 651-257 Lar B rp 58-z-3*.air I*A WAP OFto LOT 4 4 -A SKA 7 ION FiF\w K.1 m S M 5' ^.OS/ 5~Vv<^W-^ 47 i-Z9,OS' Mm \b TP <C<0 CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL Approved by Planning Board of Town Not6 ’< h^fOCH 21 ZooO'.■'>!NorJu r-'ikir-JKfi-r/Uf J phutjQ T^WN QP urn AC.A -AE^l^FzI > TP S8-2-'AND <>' N.-&<^'-35'-/S"-Y/. 4-0,oo ' POl’ZPBSTN ft.,C-/OKGtflWl 034-^77 of IthacafT-dh. <CL C TOWN OF ITHACAPLANNING,ZONING,ENGINEERING o - Z- ST^TnAoJf C-Q^ 80^-3^0 Q> HetCM uufg.0)^ 751-314- TP 58' a-mg-eql-CP-0') c.54 -8^^ TP SS-1"3'?.^4T. LO j ^*4**q Approximate location of shed on the survey map. Entire structure of the shed is on the asphalt driveway.Snapshot from the google maps View from the westview Ln Westview Ln Closer view Backside of the shed. Note the curb of driveway.East side of the shed. Note the curb of driveway. COMMISSIONER Katherine Borgella DEPUTY COMMISSIONER M. Megan McDonald 121 E. Court St, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 | Phone: (607) 274-5560 | tompkinscountyny.gov/planning Creating and implementing plans that position Tompkins County communities to thrive. September 19, 2025 Lori Kofoid, Administrative Assistant IV Town of Ithaca 215 North Tioga St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Re: Review Pursuant to §239 -l, -m and -n of New York State General Municipal Law Proposed Action: Area Variance for proposed shed located at 203 Westview Lane, Tax Parcel #58.-2-39.621, Vishalsingh Chaudhari & Vandana Raghavan, Owners; Vishalsingh Chaudri, Applicant. Dear Lori Kofoid: This letter acknowledges your referral of the proposed action identified above for review by the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability pursuant to §239 -l, -m and -n of the New York State General Municipal Law. We have determined the proposed action will have no significant county-wide or inter-community impact. We look forward to receiving notification on the final action taken by your municipality within 30 days of decision, as required by State law. Sincerely, Katherine Borgella, AICP Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability