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Lancaster Zoning Board approves variance for large pole barn at 118 Nickter Road
Summary
The Town of Lancaster Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved variances allowing John and Suzanne Phillips to build a 20 ft 8 in, 2,540 sq ft pole barn at 118 Nickter Road after finding the structure will not be visible from the street and no commercial use will be permitted.
The Town of Lancaster Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously granted John and Suzanne Phillips an area variance to construct a 20-foot, 8-inch pole barn at 118 Nickter Road.
The board approved relief from Chapter 400, Section 13, Subsection D, Schedule B of the town code to permit a structure taller than the 16-foot accessory-structure limit and larger than the usual accessory-structure size limit. The clerk’s notice described the requested variance as 4 feet, 8 inches in height and an increase from an approximately 1,250-square-foot accessory limit to a proposed 2,540-square-foot barn.
Suzanne Phillips told the board the building is for private vehicle storage — including a handicap-accessible van, a camper that will not fit in a regular garage, two sports cars and other personal vehicles — and that the family combined adjacent lots to create sufficient area. Patricia Greenwood, presenting as a member and treasurer of the neighborhood homeowners association, said the HOA reviewed the plan, had no objections and that the barn would not be visible from the street or nearby lake.
Neighbor Mark Chavez asked whether the structure would be used for a business; the applicant and board members said the record will include a condition that no commercial enterprise be conducted on the premises if the variance is granted.
Board member Mike Lee moved the motion, which the chair announced was seconded by Mr. Zielak; after a roll-call vote the chair declared the motion approved. The board read findings into the record including a type II SEQR determination, a conclusion that the proposal would not produce an undesirable change to the character of the neighborhood, that there would be no detriment to nearby properties, and that the requested relief was the minimum necessary. The board instructed the applicants to follow up with the building department to obtain required permits and next steps.
The variance is approved; the applicants must obtain building-department approval and comply with any conditions recorded in the decision.
