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Suffern ZBA approves variance to allow occasional limo/shuttle parking at 21 Cypress Road, 3-2
Summary
The Zoning Board granted an area variance, 3-2, allowing Gerald Burns to park a commercial livery vehicle (limo/shuttle) at his residence on occasion provided it remain behind the property's front building line.
The Village of Suffern Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-2 on Jan. 9 to grant an area variance allowing Gerald Burns to park a commercial livery vehicle that exceeds the code's size limits at 21 Cypress Road, with a condition that the vehicle be parked behind the front building line.
Burns told the board he operates a livery service and occasionally brings home a vehicle that can vary in size from an SUV to a stretch limo to a shuttle bus. He said the vehicle is his livelihood and that the larger shuttle is parked only sporadically. Burns testified he can back the vehicle behind the house so it is not easily visible from Cypress Road.
Board members reviewed the applicable zoning provision (Section 266-36.1(a) of the Village of Suffern zoning code) that limits commercial vehicles on residential lots to specified dimensions. The board's discussion centered on whether the vehicle is an eyesore, frequency of parking at the site, enforceability of limits, and whether a condition to keep the vehicle behind the front line would address neighborhood concerns.
During the hearing, multiple board members said they had visited the property and observed the vehicle could be stored behind the house and appeared well kept. Questions established the larger shuttle was about 30 feet in length and that other commercial or livery vehicles Burns owns generally meet the code limits.
An informal poll showed three members inclined to approve and two to disapprove. A motion to approve the area variance with the condition that the vehicle remain beyond the front building line passed. The roll-call vote recorded Mr. Marks, Miss Wilson and Mr. Zabowski voting yes; Mr. Adler and Mr. Radwar voting no. The board treated the request as an area variance limited to size and conditioned on parking location.
The board chair said a formal written decision with the stated condition will be issued at the next meeting. Burns was informed of the board's condition and left the hearing after the vote.
