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Owner seeks variances for carport and second‑floor deck in Rhinebeck historic district; Planning Board raised no objections

October 05, 2025 | Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York


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Owner seeks variances for carport and second‑floor deck in Rhinebeck historic district; Planning Board raised no objections
An applicant for Wincliff Court LLC outlined plans Sept. 17 to add a two‑story structure consisting of a carport with an uncovered second‑floor deck on an undersized nonconforming lot in Rhinebeck’s historic preservation district.

Why it matters: The project alters a property in a historic district and requires dimensional variances because offsets and lot shape leave little buildable area. The board must weigh impacts on the district’s character and nearby properties.

What the applicant described
- Project scope: The proposal is for a carport under a second‑floor deck (deck railing 3 feet 6 inches above finished floor); the work would reuse an existing driveway and minimize disturbance to vegetation.
- Historic context: The presenter said the property and existing house date to 1975 and are not historic structures, though the property sits within a historic-preservation district. The applicant noted prior, similar alterations to a “sister house” nearby and said the Planning Board had no concerns at its Sept. 15 meeting.

Procedure and next steps
- The ZBA opened and then closed the public hearing Sept. 17 after discussion; members will do a site visit Oct. 11. The board said it expects to prepare a resolution for the Oct. 15 meeting.

Quote (from the record)
- Applicant presenter: “We’re seeking approval on a two‑story structure, which is a carport with a Second Floor deck above… the building itself is not historic.”

Ending
The board asked the applicant to mark the proposed work on site (stakes or spray paint) for the Oct. 11 visit and said neighbors’ input will be considered when drafting a resolution for Oct. 15.

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