Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/06/1996 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsI • MINUTES Zoning Board of Adjustment CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS February 6, 1996 7:00 P.M. • MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Chairman Sawtelle and Members Rife, Hollas and Alternate Members Alexander and Ochoa. MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairman Birdwell, Member Poston and Alternate Member Blackwelder. STAFF PRESENT: Staff Planner Dunn, Planning Technician Thomas, and Assistant City Attorney Sexton. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -explanation of functions of the Board. Mr. Sawtelle called the meeting to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Approval of minutes from the workshop meeting of December 12, 1995. Mr. Hollas moved to approve the minutes from the workshop meeting of December 12, 1995 as amended by Staff Planner Dunn. Mr. Rife seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: Approval of minutes from the meeting of December 19, 1995. Mr. Rife moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of December 19, 1995 with the correction under agenda item four that the meeting of the "Zoning Board of Adjustment" and not the "Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment" was adjourned. Mr. Hollas seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Consideration of a front setback variance request at 315 Lee Street, lots 31 and 32, block 3 of the Oakwood Addition to allow the renovation and expansion of the existing house. Staff Planner Dunn presented the staff report and stated that the applicant wishes to construct an addition to the existing house, which currently fronts onto Lee Street. The • project will also involve the reorientation of the front door and driveway from Lee Street to Park Place. A recent property survey conducted during the sale of the property, revealed that the existing garage encroached into the rear setback by approximately 3.7'. However, due to the 100' depth of the property off of Park Place, the applicant requested that the 25' front setback be measured off of Park Place instead of Lee Street. This change eliminated the garage encroachment and created a smaller encroachment of the existing house by approximately 10 inches into the "reoriented" front setback. The applicant now wishes to construct the addition so that it meets evenly with the front of the existing house. It has been the staffs policy to require Board action for encroachments over a minimum three inch margin of error. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance of 10 inches to the 25' front setback. Special conditions in this case could be the location in an older neighborhood, and the reorientation of the front entry from Lee Street to Park Place. The applicant states that without a variance, the addition would require an off-setting roof line and framing system, which would result in a less aesthetically appealing roof line, and a non- functional porch area of 3' 8" in width. The expansion could occur in other areas surrounding the existing structure without a setback variance. However, the applicant wishes to built in the front area of the house to enhance the front entry with a porch area. The current request is actually an alternative to the original orientation, which would have required a variance of 3.7' to the original rear setback in the area • • of the existing garage. Since 1975, the Board has granted approximately fifteen variance requests to yard requirements for the expansion of older homes in the Oakwood neighborhood. The special conditions for these cases have focused mainly on the age of the neighborhood. Approximately seventeen surrounding property owners were notified of the variance request with no response. Mr. Sawtelle opened the public hearing. Representative of the applicant, Jerry Fox approached the Board and was sworn in by Mr. Sawtelle. He stated that his parents, Dale and Phyllis Fox were not able to make the meeting. Mr. Fox stated that since the house has been repositioned, the front setback is only 15' from the property line. He stated that the alternative of expanding towards Lee Street was examined; however, the applicants felt that the neighborhood would not like that alternative since the home will be located closer to the street than the other homes along Lee Street. Mr. Fox informed the Board that some remodeling has begun on the house; however, the applicants are waiting on the outcome of the variance to begin the addition. Mr. Sawtelle closed the public hearing. Mr. Hollas stated that the addition would be an improvement to the neighborhood. He stated that the variance request is also lesser intense than the existing encroachment of the garage. Mr. Rife moved to authorize a variance from section 15 of ordinance number 1638 to the minimum setback requirements from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: the lot is located in an older neighborhood which predates many of the existing zoning ordinances, and because this is a deminimus variance request; and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: inability to develop the property and to construct an improvement in an aesthetically pleasing and functional manner; and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM NO. S: Other business. Mr. Sawtelle stated that it would be useful in future cases to have more of an historical reference. If the Board knew when a street was installed or what the ordinance requirements were at the time a structure was built, it may help in making a decision. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Adjourn. Mr. Hollas moved to adjourn the meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). APPROV ;,i Chairman, Dic irdwell AT la ng Technician, atalie Thomas ZBA Minutes February 6, 1996 Page 2 of 2 ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT • FORMAT FOR POSITIVE MOTION Variance from Section 15, Ordinance Number 1638. I move to authorize a variance to the yard (Section 8.T) lot width (Table A) lot depth (Table A) minunum setback parking requirements (Section 9) I• from the terms of this ordinance as it will not be contrary to the public interest, due to the following special conditions: ,f rr (~ (~ f r ~ 1 ~...~ ~..n,r~f-e ~ i i! I:f.(,f ~ 1 ~dJ U r ~ e, ~ 41•L UZ~, ~v~ ~~C Motion made by Seconded by _ Chair Signature- Yf3RP1638.DCSC and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result u1 unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: and such that the spirit of this ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done subject to the following limitations: Zoning Board of Adjustment Guest Register • Date^ ~ ~ (~' Name Address i, ~ E-a.p.~ E . (~,X S~'1 ~~c~ ,~ 3 ~ C.. c . S ,'~ ~ ~ 4.S 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. • 24. 25.