The Victor Zoning Board of Appeals approved two area variance requests during its June 1 meeting, including a proposal for a new single-family home near a federally regulated wetland on Baker Road after an extended discussion about environmental impacts and site constraints. The board also granted a variance for a shed on Strong Road, concluding both projects met the standards required for approval.
Shed approved on challenging Strong Road lot
The board unanimously approved a request from the owner of 1020 Strong Road to place a 10-by-12-foot shed in front of the primary structure, requiring an area variance under town code. The applicant explained that the property’s unusual flag-lot configuration, combined with wetlands, a septic system, geothermal infrastructure and steep slopes, made it impractical to place the shed behind the home.
Board members cited the property’s topography, environmental constraints and existing vegetation screening as factors supporting the request. Members also noted a neighboring property owner had expressed support for the proposal. Following discussion, the board determined the variance would not alter the character of the neighborhood or create adverse impacts and approved the request unanimously.
Wetland concerns dominate Baker Road hearing
Most of the meeting focused on a request involving a proposed single-family home at an undeveloped parcel on Baker Road. The applicant sought a variance to allow portions of a house and driveway to be located within 100 feet of a federally regulated wetland. The property, identified by the board as a challenging lot, contains steep slopes and limited buildable area.
Project engineer David Cox told the board that the wetland is federally regulated but not subject to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation jurisdiction. He explained that the home’s location was largely dictated by Department of Health requirements requiring the septic system to remain at least 100 feet from the wetland, while also avoiding slopes exceeding 20%. According to the applicant, moving the house farther from the wetland would require significant additional grading, removal of more than 100 additional trees and an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 in added construction costs. The current design would remove approximately 38 trees.
Board seeks protections for wetland
Board members spent considerable time discussing potential runoff from the home and driveway into the wetland. Members questioned whether stormwater could negatively affect wildlife and environmental conditions within the wetland and explored several mitigation options.
To address those concerns, the applicant agreed to install a swale designed to capture and redirect runoff from the house and portions of the driveway away from the wetland and into an existing culvert system. Board members ultimately determined that the drainage feature, combined with the project’s design and the fact that no direct disturbance of the wetland would occur, reduced potential environmental impacts to an acceptable level. Neighbor Cory Allen, who lives across Baker Road, also spoke in support of the proposal, arguing that preserving the wooded hillside was preferable to moving the project farther upslope and clearing substantially more trees.
Variance approved with conditions
After debating whether to require a permanently gravel driveway, the board opted against imposing that restriction. Instead, members approved the variance with conditions requiring installation and maintenance of the proposed drainage swale and continued protection of the wetland during and after construction.
The board concluded that the proposal represented the least environmentally disruptive option available on the property and voted unanimously to approve the request. The project must still undergo Planning Board review before construction can begin. The board then adjourned the meeting.
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