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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/1995 - Regular Minutes - Zoning Board of AdjustmentsMINUTES • Zoning Board of Adjustment CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS October 3, 1995 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Birdwell and Members Rife, Hollas, Sawtelle and Alternate Member Alexander. MEMBERS ABSENT: Member Poston and Alternate Members Blackwelder and Ochoa. STAFF PRESENT: Staff Planner Dunn, Planning Technician Thomas, and Assistant City Attorney Shively. AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Call to order -explanation of functions of the Board. Chairman Birdwell called the meeting to order. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Approval of minutes from the meeting of September 5,1995. Mr. Rife moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of September 5, 1995 as written. Mr. Sawtelle • seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). AGENDA ITEM N0.3: Consideration of a variance request to the rear setback requirements at 1106 Woodhaven Drive to allow an addition to the existing residence on lot 7, block 9 of Glenhaven Estates Phase II. Staff Planner Dunn presented the staff report to allow the expansion of the main structure for a living area in the rear yard. The main house, which would include the proposed living area expansion, is required to meet a rear setback distance of 25' from the rear property line. The garage structure is allowed a smaller rear setback of 20'. The applicant proposes to expand the living area of the main house, connecting to the roof structure of the garage, which would result in a rear setback of 20'. Therefore, the request is a variance of 5' to the rear setback. The shallow depth and the curvature of the front property line are offered as special conditions in this case. The lot depth varies from 115' on the northwest side to 91' on the southeast side, which is slightly under the minimum 100' depth. The applicant offers the following hardships due to the required setback standard: (1) Aesthetics -the flow of interior design as well as exterior spaces; diminished utility of design. (2) Transition of expansion area to the garage -choppy tie in to garage resulting in possible leaks in the future. (3) Reduction of back yard play area -forcing expansion in the northwest direction, reducing the amount of yard along the rear of the house. Staff Planner Dunn stated that the following alternatives have been identified: • (1) Alter the proposed floor plan to fit within the existing setbacks. Although the applicant is opposed to this alternative, there remains a substantial rear yard area outside of the setback. (2) Grant a smaller variance amount. The Board may grant any variance amount less than what is requested. • Staff Planner Dunn stated that in the past, the Board has granted several variance requests to rear setbacks for the placement of garages. Most of these cases, however, dealt with older existing homes which create special conditions to restrict their expansion, or restrict the placement of new garage structures. On July 18, 1995, the Board granted a 10' rear setback variance for the placement of a garage located at 1308 Bayou Woods. The special condition in that case was the unusual lot shape and size. Twenty-five surrounding property owners were notified of the variance request with no response. Chairman Birdwell opened the public hearing. • • L Representative of the applicant, Steven Beck of 201 College View in Bryan, approached the Board and was sworn in by Chairman Birdwell. He presented several drawings of the proposed addition and showed how the rear setback requirement affects the addition. Mr. Beck went over the three hardships presented in the staff report. He stated that the proposed addition will be one story and should add to the neighborhood. Owner of the subject property, Lauri Chapkin of 1106 Woodhaven Drive, informed the Board that she spoke with the neighbors on both sides and to the rear of her home. The neighbors had no problems with the proposed addition. Mr. Rife stated that the curve in the road caused the entire house to be pushed further back from the street than if the lot was rectangular. He moved to authorize a variance from Section 15, 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 odd shaped lot on a cul-de-sac prevents the homeowner from fully utilizing the front yard building area; and because a strict enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship to this applicant being: inability to build an efficient addition that will be aesthetically pleasing; and such that the spent of this ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done subject to the following condition: the variance is limited to the 4.3' requested by the applicant. Mr. Alexander seconded the motion. Mr. Hollas expressed concern that there are no special conditions in this particular case. The motion to grant the variance request passed (4 - 1); Mr. Hollas voted in opposition to the motion. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Other business. There was no other business. AGENDA ITEM NO. S: Adjourn. Mr. Sawtelle moved to adjourn the meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mr. Rife seconded the motion which passed unopposed (5 - 0). TT anni echm ' ,Nat ie omas ZBA Minutes APPROVED• i C airman, Dick Birdwell October 3, 1995 Page 2 of 3 Zoning Board of Adjustment • • • Guest Register Date Name Address 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.