Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Boards of Adjustment - Meeting Date: 2/9/2006 MEETING MINUTES CITY OF GLENDALE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT GLENDALE COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUILDING CONERENCE ROOM B-3 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2006 7:00 P.M. The regular meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Gallegos, with the following members and representatives present: BOARDMEMBERS PRESENT: Moe Gallegos, Chairperson Yvonne Knaack, Vice-Chairperson Sandy Burrell Merry Lutz Rodney Passmore Michael Schroth BOARDMEMBERS ABSENT: Hugh Leonardo CITY STAFF: Ray Jacobs, Zoning Administrator Jim Flenner, Deputy City Attorney Karen Stovall, Planner Lynn Crance, Recording Secretary Chairperson Gallegos explained the Board's policies and hearing procedures. Chairperson Gallegos called for approval of the January 12, 2006 minutes. Boardmember Burrell made a MOTION to APPROVE the minutes from the January 12, 2006 meeting. Boardmember Knaack SECONDED the MOTION. The motion PASSED byavote of6to0. Chairperson Gallegos asked staff if there were any requests for withdrawals or continuances. There were none. Chairperson Gallegos called for public hearing items. February 9, 2006 Board of Adjustment Page 2 APPLICATION NO.: VAR05-30 REQUEST: A request by Mr. John Chambers for three variances: 1) reduce the north side yard setback to 3 feet where 5 feet is required; 2) reduce the front yard setback to 18 feet where 20 feet is required for an attached garage; and 3) reduce the minimum separation between buildings on adjacent lots from 15 feet to 13 feet to allow an addition to a residence in an Rl-6 zoning district. The property is located at 15255 North 62"d Drive. Staff Contact: John R. Verdugo (Sahuaro District). On Mr. Verdugo's behalf, Ms. Stovall presented the application, reviewing the site and request. Boardmember Lutz asked how the extra building is being used. Ms. Stovall deferred the question to the applicant. John Chambers, applicant, said his intention is to provide additional secure storage for his collector cars by constructing an architecturally pleasing addition to his home. He said the addition will both enhance his home and add value to his property. In response to Boardmember Lutz's previous question, Mr. Chambers said the existing building houses six old cars. He explained he has three additional cars that arc currently housed elsewhere that he would like to move to and store on his property. Boardmember Lutz asked Mr. Chambers where he does his restoration work. Mr. Chambers stated he mostly purchases finished cars, but any restoration or maintenance work he does takes place in the garage. Boardmember Schroth asked about the side yards of other properties in the neighborhood that have three car garages. Mr. Chamber said he does not know their actual measurements, but he assumes they are at least five feet from the property line. Boardmember Schroth asked if the exhibit given to surrounding property owners showed the additional building in the back. Mr. Chambers explained the exhibit is the original map of the property, stating he did not have a map that showed the existing building. Boardmember Schroth asked where the Board received its exhibit which does show the additional building in the back. Mr. Chambers was unable to recall, stating he may have sent the same exhibit to the surrounding property owners. Ms. Stovall was unable to confirm which of the two exhibits was mailed to property owners. Boardmember Passmore asked if any variances were required when the building in the rear was constructed. Mr. Chambers responded no. Boardmember Schroth asked if the building meets city codes. Mr. Chambers answered yes. Boardmember Schroth asked where the garage doors are located on the building in the rear. Mr. Chambers said they point into the yard. February 9, 2006 Board of Adjustment Page 3 Boardmember Lutz said it appears the addition will extend out from the front of the house. Mr. Chambers agreed. He stated many three car garages on newer homes throughout the northwest valley are offset from the two car garages, expressing his opinion it enhanced the appearance of the homes. Vice-chair Knaack asked if there is access to the back yard from the street, Mr. Chamber responded yes through a 10-foot RV gate. Chairperson Gallegos asked if the building is within city code. Ms. Stovall said the property does not have any violations. Mr. Chambers commented he made many trips to the Planning Department when the building was constructed to ensure it was done right. Boardmember Schroth asked where the house next door is located in relationship to the applicant's north property line. Mr. Chambers said he believes 13 feet north of the lot line. Boardmember Passmore asked if a six foot block wall separates the two homes. Mr. Chambers answered yes. Chairperson Gallegos opened the meeting up for public comment on this case. Chairperson Gallegos noted receiving a letter from Steven R. Thomas indicating his support of the applicant's request. He said Mr. Thomas expressed his opinion the addition will increase the value of the entire neighborhood. Ed Lyons, 15252 North 62nd Drive, Glendale, said his house is across the street and to the west of the applicant's house. He stated he has no objection to the applicant's request and he does not understand the city's concern. He said none of his neighbors have any concerns about the project either. He pointed out the addition will actually increase Mr. Chamber's property value, thereby increasing tax revenue to the city. He stated Mr. Chambers has always been a good neighbor. John Bartholomew, 15285 North 62nd Drive, Glendale, said he does not know the applicant well, but he can appreciate his desire to protect his cars. He stated he supports the applicant's efforts to protect his investments. He stated the applicant does not do a lot of work on his cars and he has never witnessed any mechanical work being done on the cars. He noted he is building a home in Scottsdale with a three car garage, stating the front of their garage is also staggered to enhance the architecture of the home. He stated Mr. Chambers has one of the nicest properties in the neighborhood. Tom and Susan Davidson, 15252 North 62nd Avenue, Glendale, voiced their support of the applicant's request. Mr. Davidson said they have had no problems with the applicant's activities and have found him to be a very good neighbor. He pointed out the building is less visible than staff's pictures indicate. He said his in-laws' three car garage is also offset as is his pastor's garage. He stated the building in the back looks just like the applicant's house and he expects Mr. Chambers will do the same with the new addition. He noted he and his wife would like to February 9, 2006 Board of Adjustment Page 4 eventually put an addition on to their house. He said the applicant's request is in keeping with the neighborhood, pointing out three other houses in the neighborhood have already been enlarged. Ron Kennedy, 15231 North 62nd Drive, Glendale, commended the applicant for his effort to obtain city approval for his project. He said the applicant has not only strived to make sure his property benefits from the project, but that other properties in the area are protected and benefit as well. He stated the applicant's first addition matched the house perfectly and he would expect nothing less for the proposed addition. He said the offset for the garage is simply intended to add architectural interest. He stated he supports the applicant's request. Boardmember Schroth asked Mr. Chambers if he considered adding onto the existing garage. Mr. Chambers responded yes, stating the setbacks make doing so infeasible. Boardmember Schroth asked Mr. Chambers how he uses the ten foot gate at this time. Mr. Chambers explained the gate provides access to the back yard for his cars. Boardmember Schroth asked if the gate could be used as an entrance to the garage. Mr. Chambers said doing so would restrict his ability to access the existing garage. He clarified the gate marked as "boat gate" on the site plan never existed, stating it is simply a 36 inch walk-through gate. Mr. Jacobs pointed out, if the applicant's request is approved, the size of the storage area will exceed the size of the house. Chairperson Gallegos asked Mr. Chambers if he already owns the cars he intends to store in the new garage. Mr. Chambers responded yes, stating they are currently stored elsewhere. Chairperson Gallegos asked why that situation has to change. Mr. Chambers said the owner of the house where two of the cars are stored is getting married and will likely sell her house. Chairperson Gallegos closed the public hearing. Boardmember Schroth said he will have a hard time approving the applicant's request, despite the comments made by the neighbors. He expressed his opinion 11 cars is an excessive number of cars to store on a property. He stated the proposed structure is longer than the house and is only three feet from the property line. Vice-chair Knaack agreed, stating she sees the matter as one of choice rather than hardship. Chairperson Gallegos thanked the residents for coming out to speak. Vice-chair Knaack made a MOTION to APPROVE VAROS-30. Boardmember Burrell SECONDED the MOTION. Chairperson Gallegos opened the floor to discussion. No further comments were made. February 9, 2006 Board of Adjustment Page 5 Chairperson Gallegos called for a Roll Call Vote. The MOTION FAILED by a vote of 0 to 6. APPLICATION NO.: VAR06-01 REQUEST: A request by John Ramirez of Chicanos Por La Causa for variances to reduce the side yard setbacks to 5 feet (north) and 10 feet (south) where 20 foot perimeter setbacks arc required in the R-3 (Multiple Residence) zoning district. The purpose of the variances is to allow the construction of a new house. The property is located at 5405 North 53rd Drive. Staff Contact: Karen Stovall (Ocotillo District). Ms. Stovall presented the application, reviewing the site and request. Boardmember Schroth asked what the lot coverage will be if the request is approved. Ms. Stovall answered 33 percent. John Ramirez, applicant, said they approached the City of Glendale Housing and Redevelopment Department a little over a year ago regarding their interest in pursuing development of infill homesites, particularly within the City Center area. He noted they have maintained quality, affordable rental complexes in the city. He said the subject lot became vacant when the neighbor to the north cut down a palm tree that fell on and destroyed the house. He expressed his opinion the proposed house will maintain the traditional look of the neighborhood. He stated the proposed setbacks are consistent with all of the surrounding properties. Vice-chair Knaack asked Mr. Ramirez how his organization feels about putting a new house next to a property that is in very poor condition. Mr. Ramirez said they look to see what programs can assist neighboring homeowners or, in situations where a neighboring property is a rental property, they often research the possibility of acquiring and rehabbing the property to city standards. He stated they look at their project in the context of full neighborhood redevelopment. He said their experience has been that constructing a new quality home in an area serves as a catalyst for improving the entire neighborhood. He confirmed block walls are constructed between the properties. Boardmember Passmore asked if the subject property will be a rental property or owned by the occupants. Mr. Ramirez said it will be a first-time home ownership opportunity. Boardmember Passmore attested to the positive impact infill development can have on a whole neighborhood. Chairperson Gallegos asked if the house will present a home ownership opportunity to a low income family. Mr. Ramirez responded yes, stating the family must earn 80 percent or less than the average median income for Maricopa County. He noted they already have several candidates for this and future homes. February 9, 2006 Board of Adjustment Page 6 Chairperson Gallegos opened the meeting up for public comment on this case. As no comments were made, he closed the public hearing. Boardmember Burrell made a MOTION to APPROVE VAR05-01, subject to the site plan dated January 3, 2006. Boardmember Schroth SECONDED the MOTION. Chairperson Gallegos opened the floor to discussion. Boardmember Schroth said it will be great to see the project proceed. He thanked the applicant for their efforts. Chairperson Gallegos agreed. He said he particularly appreciates that the house will benefit a family who is struggling. No further comments were made. Chairperson Gallegos called for a Roll Call Vote. The MOTION PASSED by a vote of 6 to 0. Chairperson Gallegos called for Other Business. Chairperson Gallegos noted he may be out of town on March 9, Boardmember Schroth made a MOTION to VACATE the Board's March 9, 2006 regular meeting. Vice-chair Knaack SECONDED the MOTION. The motion passed unanimously. The Board decided to hold a workshop session on March 9 at 5:30 p.m. Chairperson Gallegos called for the Planning Staff Report. No report was given. Chairperson Gallegos called for Board Comments and Suggestions. Boardmember Schroth said he is glad they tabled the 63"' Avenue church issue. As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. �Lyn Crance, Recording Secretary