The Victor Zoning Board of Appeals postponed decisions on two separate applications Monday night, asking for more information before ruling on a proposed backyard chicken coop and a new truck accessory and repair business along Route 96.
The first case involved Nathan Fuller, who is seeking an area variance to place a 17-by-8-foot chicken coop at 7459 Victor Mendon Road. Town rules require the coop to be at least 100 feet from side lot lines, while Fuller’s proposal would place it roughly 50 feet from both sides.
Fuller told the board he plans to keep no more than six hens and no rooster, primarily to provide eggs for his family. He said there are no plans to operate a commercial egg business.
Much of the discussion focused on whether the coop could be moved farther toward the rear of the property to improve screening from neighboring homes.
Board members also questioned Fuller about manure disposal, the proximity of nearby wetlands and whether adjoining property owners had been contacted.
Fuller acknowledged an application statement indicating he had written permission from adjoining property owners wasn’t accurate. He said he mailed letters while still living in Colorado but didn’t receive written responses.
Board members said they wanted another effort made to directly notify the neighbors before deciding the case. They also asked Fuller to follow up with the state Department of Environmental Conservation regarding nearby wetlands.
The hearing will remain open until the board’s Oct. 5 meeting.
The board also delayed action on three variance requests tied to Custom Truck Creations, which plans to occupy part of an existing building at 7263 Route 96.
The business installs truck accessories including lift kits, wheels, tires and caps and is considering limited repair work such as brakes, exhaust and oil changes.
Because the operation is classified as a repair shop, town code requires larger buffers from residential zoning and nearby residences.
The property is roughly 260 feet from the nearest residential zoning district where 1,000 feet is required and about 320 feet from the nearest residential structure where 500 feet is required.
The applicant argued existing vegetation, the railroad corridor separating portions of the site and the fact that nearly all work would occur inside should limit impacts on nearby homes.
Board members, however, said they wanted an acoustical study before deciding whether the reduced setbacks would create an unreasonable noise impact.
Custom Truck Creations owner Larry Cooper said modern battery-powered tools are much quieter than older pneumatic equipment and said most work would occur inside the building, but agreed to look into the study.
The company’s third variance request involves a proposed “rock ramp” near Route 96 that would display modified trucks at an angle.
Board members questioned whether the same effect could be achieved with a conventional parking space, which may be possible through site-plan review without requiring the same variance.
Cooper said the ramp would highlight lifted trucks and other modifications while also providing a place to photograph completed projects.
The board kept the applications open and asked the business to return Oct. 5 with additional information, particularly the noise analysis.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.