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Zoning board approves Hill family’s plan to convert garage into accessory apartment
Summary
The Town of Newburgh Zoning Board granted area variances allowing Jamiee and Stoddard (Todd) Hill to convert a historic detached garage at 149 Mill St. into a small ‘mother/daughter’ accessory apartment after finding the request met variance criteria.
Chairman Darrin Scalzo and the Town of Newburgh Zoning Board of Appeals voted July 25 to approve an area variance for Jamiee and Stoddard (Todd) Hill, who asked to convert a roughly 580‑square‑foot detached garage at 149 Mill Street into an accessory apartment.
Todd Hill told the board, “We’re just converting it to a mother/daughter for my mother‑in‑law.” Code Compliance representative Joseph Mattina explained the property’s existing front‑yard setbacks meant the lot did not meet zoning requirements for an accessory apartment under the town definition, so the applicants needed an area variance.
Board members walked through the five variance factors required under state law. Members said the garage sits well back from the road and that the proposal would not create an undesirable change in neighborhood character. Chairman Scalzo noted the garage appeared to predate zoning and said the hardship was not self‑created.
The board moved and voted to approve the variances. The motion passed with all members present voting in the affirmative. The chairman told the applicants, “The variances are approved. Good luck.”
The approval allows the Hills to proceed with the conversion subject to any building, fire‑safety and permitting requirements enforced by town staff and other agencies.
