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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportSTAFF REPORT Date: March 22, 2000 ZBA Meeting Date: April 4, 2000 APPLICANT: William H. Rupley REQUEST: Variance to the rear setback. LOCATION: 718 Willow Loop PURPOSE: To allow the construction of an attached car port. GENERAL INFORMATION Status of Applicant Property Owner: Applicable Ordinance Section Property Owner William H. and Agnes E. Rupley Section 7: Schedule of District Uses — Table A PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Zoning & Land Use: The subject property and all surrounding properties are zoned and developed as R-1 Single Family Residential neighborhoods. The property is located in Phase II of the Brandon Heights Subdivision. Frontage & Lot Dimensions: The lot has approximately 67' of frontage along Willow Loop. The property has an unusual lot shape, please refer to the enclosed property layout for dimensions. Access: Access is provided to Willow Loop via a driveway on the east side of the subject property. Topography & Vegetation: Relatively flat with landscaped vegetation. Flood Plain: Not located within the flood plain. P:\HTL TR\PZL TR\PROD\PZ2000\PZ02826. DOC RITIN/iUIy:81LI1Wei NLVA /ill9Lei LI1 Setback Required: Minimum rear setback of 20 feet is required for garages and carports. Setback Requested: Varies from 5' to 11'. Case Analysis: The applicant proposes to construct a 440 sq.ft. carport addition to the rear of his home. Approximately half of this carport would lie within the 20 foot setback. The proposed carport is angled in such a way as to encroach into the rear setback by 9 feet at one rear corner and by 15 feet at the opposite corner. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a rear setback variance of 15 to 9 feet. IeU lel W&I1.9 Special Conditions: The applicant offers a special condition of limited access, stating that the only access to the proposed carport is through the existing driveway. Another special condition that may be considered by the Board is a 50 foot common area/utility easement at the rear of the property that separates the subject property from the neighbor directly behind the proposed carport. Hardships: The applicant did not state a hardship on the application. When I called the applicant to explain this section of the application, he stated that he wished for the issue of limited access to also be considered as a hardship. Alternatives: Staff offers the following alternatives: Relocate the proposed carport to the side of the home. (This relocation may encroach slightly into the 10' utility easement, which would require approval from City Council.) 2. The Board may grant a variance less than is requested (0' to 15'). P:\HTL TR\PZL TR\PROD\PZ2000\PZ02826. DOC SPECIAL INFORMATION Ordinance Intent: Building setback requirements usually allow for some degree of control over population density, access to light and air, and fire protection. Rear setbacks also provide for a usable backyard area. These standards are typically justified on the basis of the protection of property values. Similar Requests: In the past, the Board has granted variance requests to rear setbacks for the placement of garages and other accessory structures when large alleys or utility easements were present. Most of these cases have dealt with older existing homes that create special conditions to restrict their expansion, or restrict the placement of the new garage. Most recently, on December 7, 1999, the Board granted an 18' rear setback variance to 204-A Fairview to allow for an accessory building. The special condition stated in the case was the location of a 20 foot unused alley behind the property that allowed for separation between the rear neighboring property. The property is located in an older area of the City where numerous nonconformities exist and several variances have been granted due to the age of the subdivision predating current regulations. On March 2, 1993, 3221 Westchester, which is located in the Brandon Heights area, was granted a 3' variance to the side setback due to the property being adjacent to a common area. Number of Property Owners Notified: 14 Responses Received: One call has been received as of March 29, 2000. The caller did not express a particular opinion for or against the request. FAa1 S]:hril=I01rK Location Map Application Site Plan Architectural rendering P:\HTL TR\PZL TR\PROD\PZ2000\PZ02826. DOC