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Mendon ZBA grants side‑setback variance for garage addition at 880 Cheese Factory Road
Summary
The Mendon Zoning Board of Appeals approved an area variance Oct. 23 allowing homeowner Chad Journal to build an attached garage within roughly 10½ feet of the side property line at 880 Cheese Factory Road, citing topography, utilities and neighbor support; the action was returned locally by the county under GML 239‑m.
The Mendon Zoning Board of Appeals voted Oct. 23 to grant an area variance that lets homeowner Chad Journal build an attached garage at 880 Cheese Factory Road closer to the side property line than the town’s 20‑foot requirement. The motion was made by Tom Borhees and seconded by Jeff Johnson and approved by roll call.
The board’s determination summarizes that the requested addition would be sited approximately 10.5 feet from the side lot line, while Town Code §260‑106 requires a 20‑foot side setback. In presenting the application, Journal said he will convert the existing garage into living space and ‘‘put an attached garage addition off the northwest corner of the house.’’ He told the board he discussed the plan with his west neighbor Justin, who he said supported the proposal, and he emphasized the steep drop to the west reduces visual impact.
Board members discussed site topography, driveway geometry and sightlines from neighboring properties, and asked about utilities and drainage. Journal said he avoided placing the addition on the east side because of an existing pole barn and underground sanitary, propane and power lines; he also noted erosion and tree‑removal concerns for lower, more sloped alternatives. The board recorded that the project’s roof drains currently daylight to the west yard.
The draft resolution references referral of the application to the Monroe County Planning Board under General Municipal Law 239‑m and notes the county returned the matter to the town as a local issue. The board also found the application constitutes a Type II action under the town’s environmental rules (SRA), and that no further environmental review was required.
Conditions discussed during deliberations included color and siding matching and attention to drainage. The board weighed the five standard variance criteria — feasible alternatives, substantiality of the request, neighborhood character, environmental impacts and whether difficulty was self‑created — and concluded the variance was warranted based on topography, existing utilities and limited neighborhood impact. The roll call vote approved the variance (board recorded three members voting in favor).
The ZBA’s written determination and any conditions will be issued following routine clerical finalization; the transcript records no outstanding public comment on the application.
