September 17, 2015

Chairman Buechler opened up the meeting for public comment. John McElroy approached the podium and was sworn under oath. Mr. McElroy stated that he owns a business located at 52 Washington Street and he has an issue with the “d” variance for auto repair. He said that it is not a repair shop variance. Vice Chairman Neuer stated that the application states that it is a taxi cab business and a garage to service the taxis. He said that testimony is that only repairs are to be done by the taxi business for their own vehicles and not as a repair shop open to the public. Mr. McElroy said that fleet maintenance is part of another business; he said that the variance should be for the taxi cab business and not for auto repair. Mr. McElroy stated that the notice sent out by the applicant was incorrect. Vice Chairman Neuer stated that the Zoning Board attorney already accepted the notice as being correct. He asked Mr. McElroy to move on. Mr. Grygiel said that his memo dated 6/17/15 stated that the “d” variance was for a garage, taxi business and an office. He said that it is a pre-existing non-conforming use and the catch all of the notice is for all variances. Mr. McElroy said that there is no variance for backing cars out on to the public right away; Chairman Buechler said there is not a variance required for that. Mr. McElroy said that the plans are incomplete because it does not show the bays on the plans and they have the wrong parking calculations. He said that a traffic study should have been done, there is a parking space blocking the gate and no landscaping is being proposed. Mr. McElroy said there are a lot of problems with this application and he thinks it should be denied. Chairman Buechler asked Mr. McElroy how many cars he has on his property; he said approximately eighty (80). Chairman Buechler asked Mr. McElroy if there is any landscaping on his property; he said yes there are trees along the side of his property. Mr. McElroy said that when his variance was granted, he was required to put grass slats on the fence. There were no further comments from the public. Mr. Winter summed up and detailed why the Board should approve this application. 16