Zoning board grants variance to allow garage, elevator and covered patios at 50 White Oak Shade Road

The Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Buchanan voted 4-1 on March 3 to grant a variance to the Natalie Avalon Revocable Trust for a property at 50 White Oak Shade Road (Map 37, Block 88, Lot 89) to allow an increase in building coverage and a reduced side-yard setback so the family can add a larger garage, an elevator and two covered patios to accommodate their 9-year-old son, Carter Avalon, who uses a wheelchair and receives continuous medical treatment.

The variance covers two zoning provisions (sections 3.5 d and 3.5 e) the applicant sought to alter: a coverage variance to increase permitted building coverage and a side-yard setback variance to reduce the required 25-foot side yard to 17 feet. Attorney Rick Costantini, who represented the applicant at the hearing, said the request should be considered a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and the town planner’s memorandum and therefore does not require the board to make a traditional hardship finding. “We do believe it’s a reasonable accommodation based on the…