COMPLETED: 307 Rosedale Street | Variance Application
A zoning variance application has been submitted on this property. The public hearing is July 24, 2025 at 6:00 pm in Rochester City Hall. The basic details and various links are provided on this page.
FINAL UPDATE JULY 25, 2025
Essentially, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) imposed the same sort of standard as the permitting process would have required (if the owners had applied for a permit beforehand). The lot at 307 Rosedale is relatively small. Code requires four off-street parking spots for that property. The ZBA had to reconcile two countervailing interests (coverage/greenspace vs off-street parking). In order to get four standard parking spaces the property will require 66% "coverage" (rather than the 50% code calls for in this zoning district). The lot space required for four parking spaces does NOT allow enough additional room for vehicles to maneuver in and out. SO, the city will allow "permeable" materials vs. natural landscape/plantings to balance the need for off street parking with the requirement for "greenspace".
UPDATE JULY 23, 2025
UMNA has submitted the following commentary in opposition to this variance application. Please scroll down on the document to read the entire submission.
Contact [email protected] if you have questions about this matter.
Property: 307 Rosedale Street
Background
The following is a layperson's description of the situation as determined by a review of information provided online by the City of Rochester and as described by the owner during a site visit on July 7, 2025.
SUMMARY: In 2024 the driveway and rear parking area were repaved without a permit from the City. As a result, the property does not meet minimum standards for greenspace.
The property owner has requested a variance to waive greenspace requirements and allow the repaved driveway and parking areas to remain in their current configuration.
MORE DETAILS: In 2024 the owner applied to renew the Certificate of Occupancy for this four unit residential property (as required by City code/regulation). Along with other miscellaneous items the city inspector cited the driveway/back parking lot areas as needing attention. Instead of repairing the broken areas of the existing driveway/back parking lot (and retaining the small greenspaces that were present at the time) the owner chose to replace the existing driveway and back parking lot but, as noted above, failed to obtain the necessary permit. Had the owner applied for a permit they would have known that complete replacement of the existing driveway and back parking lot triggered the restoration of the minimum greenspace requirements for this property.
NOTES: The new driveway was installed with a negative slope to the rear where a drywell was installed to help mitigate stormwater runoff. Existing concrete sidewalks were replaced with new concrete sidewalks at the same time as the paving work was done. The driveway and rear parking areas of 307 Rosedale were re-surfaced by the same contractor and at the same time as 297 Rosedale Street.
Interested parties are strongly encouraged to read the official ZBA staff report
Contact [email protected] if you have questions about this matter.
"Before" Pictures (circa 2023-2024)
The photos below were taken from google.com/maps.com
"After" Pictures
This photos below were taken by an UMNA representative on two separate occasions: May 13, 2025 and July 2, 2025 during a site visit of 307 Rosedale and with the permission of the owner.
Zoning Board Of Appeals - Public Hearing Information
LOCATION: City Hall, City Council Chambers, 30 Church St. Rm. 302-A, Rochester, NY 14614
DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
PLACE ON THE ZBA AGENDA: #4 (CLICK FOR FULL AGENDA)
Members of the public are encouraged to comment directly on this application.
Comments may be submitted at any time before the hearing. If you email comments, please copy in [email protected].
Submit a written comment by email, mail, or deliver it to City Hall.
Email: [email protected]
US Mail: Zoning Office c/o Zoning Board, 30 Church St. Rm. 125B, Rochester, NY 14614
Written comment submission deadline: close-of-business, the business day before the hearing by 5:00 P.M.
Written comments must include the project address and the commentor's first name, last name, address, and contact information.
Speak at the public hearing.
Location: City Hall, City Council Chamber, 30 Church St. Rm. 302-A, Rochester, NY 14614
Comments may not exceed 3 minutes in length or 10 minutes for neighborhood associations.
Contact [email protected] if you have questions about this matter.
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