HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportSTAFF REPORT
Date: July 7, 2000 ZBA Meeting Date: July 18, 2000
APPLICANT: Southwest Homes
REQUEST: Front setback variance
LOCATION: 3100 Pleasant Forest Drive
PURPOSE: To allow for the construction of a new home.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Status of Applicant: Developer
Property Owner: Edward Sanchez
Applicable Section 7, District Use Schedule —Table A
Ordinance Section:
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Zoning and The subject property and properties to the north, east, and south are
Land Use: zoned and developed as R-1 Single Family Residential. Property to
the west is zoned as C-1 General Commercial, but is vacant.
Frontage: Chord of 71.30' with 50' radius (on the corner of a cul-de-sac).
Access: Access will be from Pleasant Forest Drive.
Topography & The subject property is flat and not yet cleared for
Vegetation: construction.
Flood Plain: Not located within a flood plain.
Easements: A 20' drainage and access easement runs inside the property along
the western property line.
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VARIANCE INFORMATION
Setback Required: According to the City of College Station Zoning Ordinance, the
minimum front building setback is 25'.
Setback Requested: 20' front setback.
Case Overview: The subject property is undeveloped. A house is planned for this
lot that will encroach into the required front setback. A corner of
the planned garage extends approximately five feet over the front
building setback line. Thus, the applicant is requesting a
variance of five feet to the front setback to allaw for the
construction of the home.
ANALYSIS
Special The ZBA could consider the 20' drainage and access easement
Conditions: along the western property line as a special condition. The
property was platted with a western side setback requirement of
11.5'. Because of the easement, the setback requirement is
increased by 8.5', reducing the amount of buildable space on the
lot.
Hardships: The ZBA could consider that the special condition of the
easement creates a hardship. The easement reduces the buildable
area of the lot. In comparison to other lots in the subdvision, this
buildable area appears to be smaller.
Alternatives: Staff has identified the following alternatives;
1. Do not grant the variance.
The structure is in the planning phase, so, at this time, no
physical encroachments exist. A denial will require the
applicant to design a home that meets the front setback
requirement for the lot.
2. Move the structure to the rear setback line and grant a 3.5'
variance.
The plans show the house will be placed approximately 1.5'
from the rear setback. If the house was moved back to the
line, the front of the house would encroach 1.5' less into the
front setback.
3. As with any case, the Board may grant less than what is
requested (0' to 5 ).
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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. These standards are typically justified on the basis of
the protection of property values.
Similar Requests: There have been two variances requested and granted in the
Pleasant Forest Subdivision. Construction errors caused a 0.33'
(4 -inch) encroachment into the front setback at 3109 Pleasant
Forest Drive and a 1.5' encroachment into the front setback at
3110 Pleasant Forest Drive. The variances were granted (limited
to the existing encroachments) because of the hardships involved
in demolishing and rebuilding.
Number of 17
Property Owners
Notified:
Responses At the time of this report, there have been two inquiries into this
Received: request. The callers did not express support or opposition to the
case.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Application
Site Plan
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