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Zoning board approves Varflex warehouse addition with 8-foot side-yard setback
Summary
The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved an area variance allowing an addition to a warehouse at 512 West Court Street to sit 8 feet from the side property line instead of the 25 feet required by the zoning code.
The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals on March 5 unanimously approved an area variance allowing an addition to a warehouse at 512 West Court Street to be built with an eight-foot side-yard setback instead of the 25 feet required by the zoning code.
The variance will let the applicant add a 50-by-80-foot storage addition to an existing commercial building used to store raw fiberglass and reduce the need for daily truck trips to an off-site storage location, the applicant said. The board voted 5-0 to approve the variance after brief discussion and no public comment.
Paul Schlick, the applicant, told the board the project is "to put an extension on the glass warehouse" to provide indoor shelving and reduce truck traffic from 6 Success Drive. He described the addition as 50 by 80 feet, 17 feet high at the eaves with a 5/12 roof pitch. "This way, they won't have to run the truck as much," Schlick said.
Board members asked about neighboring trees and snow runoff. Raymond Tucker noted a maple tree extending from an adjacent property that will require some trimming; Schlick said trimming rather than removal should be sufficient. Tucker also raised concerns about snow unloading onto a neighbor's fence; board members concluded the proposed placement was sufficiently far from the fence and not likely to create that issue.
Oneida County Department of Planning submitted a letter dated Feb. 5, 2025 that the clerk read into the record. The letter indicated no recommendation on final action, noted a tax-map discrepancy between the application and the county map, and advised avoiding development impacts to the Wood Creek floodplain/floodway.
After the board closed the public portion without speakers, members conducted a roll-call vote. Raymond Tucker said, "Based on Mr. Schlick's testimony in the application, I feel he's met the criteria. I approve the application." Joe Pasqualetti, Jim DeCastro, John Magdaleno and Chair John Cerbelo each voted in favor. The vote was recorded as 5-0.
The board instructed Schlick to speak with Domenico from the codes enforcement office before beginning construction. Schlick was also advised that he should coordinate any necessary trimming of neighboring trees and address drainage matters before work begins.
The applicant may proceed with permitting steps and was reminded to consult town staff on code and floodplain considerations before construction starts.
