Depew zoning board approves variance for garage addition at 344 French Road and driveway widening at 201 Rossiter Avenue

The Village of Depew Zoning Board of Appeals voted to grant two area variances during a meeting that considered separate petitions for properties at 344 French Road and 201 Rossiter Avenue.

Peter Hafner, the applicant for 344 French Road, told the board he wants to add an enclosed, heated space onto the side of his detached garage to create a patio/utility space. "I wanna put an addition on the back of my garage so we can have a patio space. And, I wanna have an enclosed space on my garage separate from where the cars are so I can have heat in there," Hafner said. He submitted two neighbor contacts—an email and a text message—stating they had no objection to the plan.

The board reviewed the required six criteria for an area variance, recording the applicant's answers. According to the filings and the board’s statements, the existing garage sits about 3.2 feet from the side lot line; the village ordinance requires a 5-foot side-yard setback. Hafner requested relief so the addition could match the existing garage line; the board recorded the requested variance as 1.8 feet of relief from the 5-foot requirement. Member Renard moved to grant the variance; the motion was seconded. A roll-call vote recorded Member Menard and Acting Chairman Patrick Delaney as voting yes; the board recorded three yes votes and approved the request.

At 201 Rossiter Avenue, applicant Stephen D. McCarthy said he seeks an expanded paved driveway because he is disabled, uses solid surface parking for mobility reasons, and described an incident in which emergency personnel had difficulty maneuvering a gurney between vehicles parked on his property. "I do have neuropathy. I do not walk very well on mud, grass, loose stone... I had to get an ambulance, and they could not get the gurney around the cars," McCarthy said. McCarthy told the board he is requesting an 8.5-foot-wide driveway extension where 5 feet is allowed—seeking 3.5 feet of relief.

The board again read the six area-variance criteria into the record and recorded the applicant’s answers. Member Bernard moved to grant the variance for 201 Rossiter Avenue; Member Galvin seconded. During roll call, a member identified as "Member Galvin" said, "I vote yes," Member Menard said "Yes," and Acting Chairman Patrick Delaney also voted yes. The board recorded three yes votes and approved the driveway expansion.

Both hearings were closed after the votes. No members of the public on the village livestream offered comments on either application during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- 344 French Road (Peter Hafner): Motion to grant area variance to allow an addition to remain less than the 5-foot side-yard setback; mover: Member Renard; second: not specified on the record; recorded yes votes: Member Menard, Acting Chairman Patrick Delaney; tally: yes 3 — approved. Relief requested: 1.8 feet (from required 5 feet to ~3.2 feet).

- 201 Rossiter Avenue (Stephen D. McCarthy): Motion to grant area variance to widen driveway beyond the 5-foot extension allowed by ordinance; mover: Member Bernard; second: Member Galvin; recorded yes votes: Member Galvin, Member Menard, Acting Chairman Patrick Delaney; tally: yes 3 — approved. Relief requested: 3.5 feet (requested 8.5-foot extension vs. 5 feet allowed).

The board did not identify any conditions or follow-up reporting requirements for either approval during the meeting.