Peekskill Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting - May 22, 2026

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on May 22, 2026 (noted in the agenda as May 21, but the provided date is May 22) to hold public hearings on two area variance applications, approve meeting minutes, and elect officers. Both variances were approved unanimously, the minutes for January 2026 were adopted, and Rachel was elected as the new Chair while Mark was re-elected as Vice Chair.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment periods for either variance application.

Discussion Items

• 921 Bernard Road – Area Variance for Driveway Extension: The applicant (represented by architect Gabriel Selman) requested a variance to extend an existing driveway by six feet (from 14 to 20 feet wide) to allow two cars to park comfortably. The property is in an R1B single-family residential district. The variance is needed because a stone wall on the right side limits width. Staff reported that the variance is unlikely to create a detriment, the expansion is the most efficient solution, the request is not substantial, and the difficulty was not self-created. The Planning Commission noted a concern about precedent, but staff indicated similar adjustments have been made in the neighborhood. The board voted to approve the variance after a public hearing with no opposing speakers.

• 224 Smith Street – Area Variance for Garage Replacement: The applicant (represented by Jim Anakarico of Cronin Engineering) sought a variance to replace a non-conforming, deteriorating two-car detached garage (18x18 ft) with a new 20x22 ft garage. The new garage requires a 2.3-foot setback from the southern property line (where the existing garage was 3.3 feet from the line; code requires 6 feet). The variance is needed because of the site geometry and driveway location. No variance is needed for the rear setback. Staff found the variance unlikely to harm nearby properties, no alternative location exists, the 62% variance is not substantial, and the difficulty was not self-created. The board voted to approve the variance after a public hearing with no speakers.

• Minutes Approval: The board attempted to approve minutes from previous meetings. The January 15, 2026 minutes were adopted unanimously. The February 19, 2026 minutes had an attendance error (Alexis present, Rachel absent) and could not be adopted due to insufficient quorum after the correction. The October 16, 2025 minutes were tabled due to missing attendance details and lack of quorum. March 2026 minutes were not yet available.

• Election of Officers: The board held elections for Chair and Vice Chair. Rachel was nominated and elected as Chair by a roll call vote of 5-1 (with the outgoing chair voting for Rachel). Mark was nominated and re-elected as Vice Chair by a roll call vote of 5-1 (with Mark abstaining from his own vote). The outgoing chair noted he is stepping down due to term limits but will continue to attend to help finalize outstanding minutes.

Key Outcomes

• 921 Bernard Road variance approved (motion carried unanimously).
• 224 Smith Street variance approved (motion carried unanimously).
• January 15, 2026 meeting minutes approved (motion carried unanimously).
• October 16, 2025 and February 19, 2026 minutes tabled due to quorum issues and attendance discrepancies.
• Rachel elected as Chair of the ZBA (5-1 vote).
• Mark re-elected as Vice Chair (5-1 vote).
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for June (no applications confirmed yet; possibility of a Zoom meeting only for administrative matters was discussed but deemed impractical under current rules).