Village Board Meetings

To get our project through the Village's permitting process we've got to get approvals from four boards:

1. Planning Board
2. Zoning Board
3. Architectural Review Board
4. and potentially the Board of Trustees

So far, we've met with just the Planning and Zoning Boards.

Last month we received preliminary site plan approval from the Planning Board; final approval will be sought during the formal meeting in September.

This month we are seeking final Zoning Board approval to allow us to use five on-street parking spaces for our building.  This is important because our property does not have enough room to allow for off-street parking.  This is our second meeting because the previous meeting had to be canceled because we forgot to bring the USPS return receipts (to prove we'd notified the neighbors of the meeting, oops!).

Working space that needs renovation.

The night of our second Zoning Board meeting, while approaching the meeting hall we ran into the Village inspector relaxing outside the building.  He casually mentioned that he had just one concern that might affect our ability to be heard at tonight's meeting.  (Gulp!?!)  He said that when he checked our file this morning there did not appear the required minimum number of electronic return receipts.  He stated that at least 50% return receipts were needed and often times the Board requested 75%.  Our hearts sunk and images of a second month wasted filled our minds.

The inspector offered to let us use his computer to see if we could document that more neighbors had since received notification.  However, when we checked the receipts delivered directly to our personal e-mail, there was no further information.  Our hearts sunk even more as the inspector stated that the meeting would start in 10 minutes.  We decided that it was best not to be late to the meeting.  We took the receipts we had so far and entered the board room.  We sat down, feeling lower than low, with the belief that we might be postponed for another month.

We were second on the agenda and the first presenter was beginning to wind down, when we got the idea to look for the missing receipts not through our e-mail, but directly through the USPS website.  While the gentleman before us was taking his final questions we got onto USPS.com on our cell phones.  This time, to our surprise, the USPS.com site had more data than we previously accessed through e-mail on the missing receipts.  The information showed that the notifications had been delivered to the local post office, with the date and time they were planned for delivery.  It wasn't an actual confirmation of delivery, but it seemed better than nothing.

The previous speaker finished, we walked to the front, and began to set up our display, knowing that there was a real possibility we would be turned away.  We began discussing where we had left off at the last meeting, and the Chairman posed the dreaded question, "Did we receive the return receipts?" The inspector told the board that 10 of the 26 receipts were confirmed delivered.  We jumped in and said our attempts at using the latest electronic technology had backfired, preventing us from providing the documentation the board required.

Working on the latest technology.

As it turned out, the stars aligned for us that night.  Instead of dismissing us, the Chairman exclaimed, "No wonder the post office is having a hard time making money."  With that joke, the Chairman continued, "it appears you were diligent in your efforts at notifying the neighbors and we will hear your application." (Yay!!!)

Our actual presentation lasted no more than 10 minutes.  The Board members were in general agreement that our project seemed reasonable and it was then and there that they granted our request for five parking variances.

The lesson of this story is if we're trying to use a new technology, let's make sure it works first!

Time-honored traditional postcards we wish we had used.