Albany Teen Allowed To Build Haunted House After Neighbors Appeal
ALBANY (KPIX 5) – An Albany teen who wanted to build his own haunted house went to city officials to plead his case, after neighbors appealed to stop the project.
Sam Dubois, 15, will get his Halloween wish to keep on haunting, after neighbors went back and forth nearly two hours at a planning commission meeting Wednesday.
"It was always incumbent upon us to basically push back for what we would consider some normal peace and quiet," said Gary Kratkin, who filed the appeal to have the house shut down.
"When the construction is going on we can't hear ourselves think," Kratkin added.
At the meeting, Sam said, "This year I've gone through all the proper channels. I've gotten approval from all branches of government at all levels."
The planning commission decided to deny the appeal to shut the haunted house down, but with the condition that it would only be open for two days.
Sam's haunted house has been moved to the backyard, keeping all things scary hidden from public view.
Right now, the haunted house is more of a haunted mess. Sam said he only has days to put together the perfect childhood nightmare.
Kratkin is hoping this doesn't burden his family in the years to come.
Holly Dubois, Sam's mother, told the attendees at the meeting, "Our goal is to continue to have a positive community experience for the many neighbors and residents that enjoy the haunted house, not to annoy our neighbors."
Sam said the haunted house raises money for the food bank.