Cortlandt zoning board approves fence and porch variances

The Cortlandt Zoning Board of Appeals granted two residential area-variance requests on October 15: one for a taller privacy fence at 2 Enrico Drive and another for the front porch and steps at 93 Locust Avenue. The latter approval included a condition requiring work with code enforcement on accessory structures.

At Enrico Drive, the application sought an eight-foot fence where the maximum was six feet. The applicant said the fence would provide privacy for a swimming pool below the level of the road. Board members discussed the location and the zoning factors, closed the public hearing and approved the two-foot variance without opposition stated.

At Locust Avenue, the revised fact sheet said the newly built porch and front steps extended farther into the front-yard setback than originally permitted. At the hearing, participants explained that the steps and porch had existed previously but had been redone; the board discussed the request as relief for work already in place.

Before voting, the board discussed a condition addressing other structures on the property. It directed that code enforcement review the accessory structures and that the applicants work with the town to bring them into compliance if necessary. After closing the hearing, the board approved the setback variances with that condition.

The motion initially used different figures, then was corrected to the revised fact sheet: 4.5 feet of relief for the covered porch and 4.7 feet for the front steps. The board stated the variances were approved after a second and a vote.

The board deferred adoption of the September meeting minutes until November, citing a technical issue.