Zoning board approves variances for 34 State Street after CEQA-style negative declaration

The Village of Ossining Zoning Board of Appeals on June 9 approved area variances for a proposed rental building at 34 State Street, after the Planning Board acting as lead agency issued a negative environmental declaration and the applicant provided additional viewshed renderings and a shadow study.

The board heard from Janet Garris, the applicant’s attorney, who said the Planning Board “adopt[ed] a negative declaration” and that the project team had submitted the requested west‑river views showing the tallest equipment on the site. Garris also introduced the project architect, identified in the record as Michael Delavino.

Board members ran the standard five‑factor variance test to evaluate requests that included a reduced minimum livable floor area, an increase in maximum building height (from the code’s four stories/48 feet toward six stories/53 feet), and modest reductions to parking stall and aisle widths. Chair Aberizzic and members repeatedly noted the applicant had limited the requested reductions and had provided comparative materials demonstrating the proposed height and massing were consistent with nearby buildings and previous approvals.

Chair Aberizzic said the new renderings and the shadow study addressed earlier concerns and indicated the change “looks minimal to no different” from existing conditions from many vantage points. Building inspector Joe Agostinelli confirmed staff had the shadow study on file and that the Planning Board had considered related environmental effects.

Following discussion of each factor, the board moved to approve ZVA 3‑206 for 34 State Street. A roll‑call vote was recorded in favor of the motion (members present answered in the affirmative). The board did not attach special conditions in the motion recorded in the meeting transcript.

The applicant was thanked for the presentation and advised of the next administrative steps; staff noted the signed approval paperwork would follow in the coming weeks. The project will proceed to required building‑department permitting steps and any agency clearances identified by staff.

The ZBA’s approval concludes the variance stage recorded in the meeting; further procedural steps remain with municipal staff and the Planning Department, where building permits and final plan checks will be processed.

The Zoning Board’s action was taken during a regular, hybrid meeting open to the public; members said they had no outstanding environmental, public‑safety, or traffic objections on the record.