The Town of Clay Zoning Board of Appeals sent a contested pole barn variance on Oswego Road back for redesign at its July 13, 2026 meeting, voting to adjourn the case to August 10 after two town officials said the project as proposed would block fire department access to the site. Anthony Natale, appearing on behalf of applicant Finger Lakes Construction at 8247 Oswego Road, asked the board for two area variances: a reduction in the required front yard setback from 25 feet to 2.3 feet, and an increase in the maximum height of an accessory structure from 12 feet to 18.4 feet, to build a pole barn with a covered porch facing the backyard. Natale said the applicant moved to the property eight months ago, does not have enough garage space, and wants the barn positioned to allow for privacy and a future pool. Asked to address the standards of proof, the applicant said other options, such as moving the barn farther back on the lot, existed but were undesirable because of sloping and drainage concerns, and acknowledged the need for the variances was self-created. Code Enforcement Commissioner Joseph Grispino and Code Enforcement Officer Mike Brown, who is also identified in the minutes as an MCFD volunteer, told the board the barn as proposed would sit too close to the road and would create serious challenges for firefighters needing to reach the area. Board member Ryan Frantzis asked whether the applicant would consider shrinking the barn to open up space between the structure and the road. Grispino said Code Enforcement and the fire department had discussed the matter and agreed a 10-foot setback would be "palatable." Resident Janet Rathburn of 4760 Freestone Road asked why the barn needed to reach 18 feet in height; Natale said the roofline would angle upward to accommodate a 10-foot garage door requiring a header. Rathburn also asked whether a business would be operated out of the barn; Natale said no, it would be for personal use only, and confirmed to Grispino that it would not include living space. No one signed up to speak for or against the variances, and the board took no vote on the setback or height requests. Instead, Chairperson Vivian Mason moved to adjourn the hearing to August 10, a motion seconded by Frantzis that carried unanimously. The minutes note the applicant will consider changes to the size of the proposed barn. The board also acted on two sign variance requests in the Highway-Commercial District, both decided on 4-1 votes with Deputy Chairperson Karen Liebi opposed. In Case #2001, held over from the June 8 meeting, applicant Greg Fischel of Allied Sign Company at 3567 State Route 31 withdrew his request for a larger freestanding sign but proceeded with a request for a third wall sign, where town code allows two; the additional sign would match the size of an existing oval sign and would be non-illuminated. The board approved it, with Michael Becker, David Porter, Frantzis and Mason in favor and Liebi opposed. In Case #2007, Ulrich Sign Co. Inc. sought to enlarge a freestanding sign at 3687 State Route 31 from the maximum 32 square feet to 40.11 square feet. Applicant Chris McCaffrey said the new sign would replace the existing one, conceal its steel support beams, and add landscaping around its base. Liebi said she liked the proposed sign's base but questioned the need for the larger size; McCaffrey said Chevrolet manufactures only certain sign sizes and this was the smallest one the applicant considered reasonable, an increase of 8 square feet. Planning & Development Commissioner Brian Bender confirmed the applicant is acquiring the adjacent property to the west and said the applicant is scheduled to appear before the Planning Board on July 22. The variance passed, again with Liebi as the lone opposing vote. Two residential fence-related variances passed unanimously. Sarah Vartabedian of 9656 Beaver Watch Path won a front yard setback reduction from 25 feet to 10 feet and permission for a 6-foot fence between the street line and setback line, saying she wanted to use more of her backyard and add a fence for her family's privacy and safety. Johann Weigl of 200 Fletcher Drive won a front yard setback reduction from 16.6 feet to 0 feet and the same 6-foot fence height allowance, to connect an existing chain-link fence, to be replaced with vinyl, to the house; Weigl told the board the fence predated his purchase of the property. In Case #2005, applicant Paul Licari of 8894 Caughdenoy Road withdrew his request for two area variances that would have reduced setbacks to allow a warehouse and accessory parking at his Industrial 2-zoned property on Caughdenoy Road. The board also accepted the minutes of its June 8 meeting and, on a motion from Chairperson Mason, voted to treat all new actions at the July 13 meeting as Type II under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, resulting in a negative declaration unless otherwise advised by the board's attorney. The meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 6:34 p.m.