First‑time homebuyer asks ZBA to allow daily parking of work van; board asks for revisions and adjourns

Christian Echepo, who identified himself as a first‑time homebuyer, asked the Greenburgh Zoning Board of Appeals for relief to park a commercial/transport van at his Oliver Avenue residence after receiving a notice that the vehicle did not conform with local code.

Echepo told the board the van is his primary means of earning income and that it cannot fit into his garage. He said the vehicle is used roughly Monday–Friday from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and that neighbors he spoke with in the immediate vicinity were not opposed to him parking the van there overnight. "So I'm just here to request for permission for me to be to park my van on a daily basis," he said.

Board members and building staff reviewed the code. Jay Scribe of the building department explained that the zoning code permits commercial vehicles in side or rear yards only if they are screened from view; front‑yard commercial‑vehicle storage requires a variance, and the town allows zero in the front yard without a variance. Members explored alternatives including enlarging the garage, reconfiguring driveway access to park the van behind the house, or providing full screening in the side or rear yard.

Under questioning Echepo said he lacked the funds to modify the garage and agreed to limit his request to one commercial vehicle for now. Several board members recommended he meet with building staff and the planning/building departments to refine options that would be less visible to neighbors. One member noted the applicant appeared unfamiliar with the variance process and suggested the board provide time and coaching.

The board concluded it would adjourn the application for all purposes to allow the applicant to work with staff and return with a revised plan; no final variance was granted at the hearing.