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BZA grants Scientia parking‑island and sidewalk variances, citing site constraints and greenway adjacency
Summary
Monroe County BZA approved variances allowing adjusted interior parking‑island layout and a sidewalk waiver for a commercial expansion, citing narrow site geometry, truck turning and proximity to the Karst Farm Greenway as practical difficulties.
The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals granted two variances to a commercial petitioner seeking to expand a facility and its parking lot: relief from interior parking‑island size/spacing and a waiver from a sidewalk requirement along Loosch Road.
Planning staff recommended denial, noting standards require landscaped islands and a five‑foot sidewalk where triggered. The county highway engineer opposed a waiver, saying a sidewalk would provide future connectivity to an existing sidewalk and greenway. The petitioner’s representative, Daniel Butler, said the site is constrained by mature oak trees, existing woods to preserve, large truck turning needs and snow‑plow maintenance considerations. Petitioner offered additional plantings and tree preservation in other areas of the site.
After a short public comment period with no opposition present, board members expressed sympathy for both sides but found the combination of practical difficulties, the Karst Farm Greenway across the road and the petitioner’s commitment to additional planting justified variances. The board approved both VAR‑26‑1A (interior landscaping) and VAR‑26‑1B (sidewalk) by voice vote 4–0.
The decision does not remove future administrative site‑plan review; staff noted the commercial site‑plan process may identify further standards to meet. The Highway Department’s comments remain part of the administrative record.
