Application for Area Variance Properly Denied—Analytical Criteria Described

The Second Department determined the village zoning board properly denied petitioner’s application for an area variance by considering all of the required factors enumerated in Village Law 7-712-b(3): “When determining whether to grant an application for an area variance, a Village zoning board of appeals, pursuant to Village Law § 7-712-b(3), must engage in a balancing test weighing the benefit to the applicant against the detriment to the health, safety, and welfare of the neighborhood or community if the variance is granted” … . A Village board of zoning appeals must also consider “whether (1) an undesirable change will be produced in the character of the neighborhood, or a detriment to nearby properties will be created by the granting of the area variance, (2) the benefit sought by the applicant can be achieved by some other method, other than an area variance, feasible for the applicant to pursue, (3) the required area variance is substantial, (4) the proposed variance will have an adverse effect or impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district, and (5) the alleged difficulty was self created” … . Matter of Affordable Homes of Long Is., LLC v Monteverde, 2015 NY Slip Op 04480, 2nd Dept 5-27-15