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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Boards of Adjustment - Meeting Date: 5/14/2015 r% As in Board ®f Adjustment GT,EN IllyE MeetingMinutes COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUILDING CONFERENCE ROOM B-3 MAY 14, 2015 4:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Toops called the meeting to order at approximately 4:00pm. ROLL CALL Board members Dietzman, Feiner, Zarra, and Chairperson Toops were present. Board member Blakely and Vice Chairperson Vescio were absent. CITY STAFF Tabitha Perry, Assistant Planning Director, Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner, James Gruber, Assistant City Attorney, and Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairperson Toops called for approval of the March 12, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes. Board member Dietzman made a motion to approve the March 12,2015 Regular Meeting Minutes as written. Board member Zarra seconded the motion,which passed with a vote of 4 to 0. WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES Chairperson Toops asked if there were any Withdrawals and Continuances. Ms. Perry said there were none. PUBLIC HEARING ITEM Chairperson Toops called for the Public Hearing Item. VAR15-02: A request by Lucas Stroberg to reduce the side yard setback to 14 feet where 50 feet is required in the A-1 (Agricultural District), to reduce the front yard setback to 19 feet where 75 feet is required in the A-1 (Agricultural District), and to increase the maximum percentage lot coverage to 30 percent where 10 percent is the maximum percentage lot coverage in the A-1 (Agricultural District). The site is at 6133 West Monte Cristo Avenue and is located in the Sahuaro District. Staff Contact: Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner. Mr. Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner, presented this item. He stated this is a request for variance approval to allow a reduction in the side yard setback to 14 feet where 50 feet is required, reduce the front yard setback to 19 feet where 75 feet is required, and increase the maximum percentage of lot coverage to 30 percent where 10 percent is the maximum percentage City of Glendale Planning • 5850 West Glendale Avenue,Suite 212 • Glendale,AZ 85301-2599 • (623)930-2800 www.glendaleaz.com May 14,2015 Board of Adjustment Page 2 in the A-1 (Agricultural District). He said the property is located at 6133 West Monte Cristo Avenue and is in the Sahuaro District. Mr. Ritz explained the subject site is located within the Sunburst Farms 25 subdivision, south of the southwest corner of Paradise Lane and 59th Avenue. He said the lot dimensions are approximately 96 feet wide and 180 feet deep, and the property is approximately 17,000 square feet in size. He explained if approved the applicant would construct a garage addition, add a spare bedroom to the rear of the house, construct an addition to the master bathroom, and construct a new detached barn with storage above. Mr. Ritz said the Planning Division received a telephone call regarding the eight foot block wall which the applicant proposed in his letter to the neighbors. The applicant clarified this would not be a block wall and would be a maximum six feet in height as allowed by city code. An interested party not located within this subdivision was concerned about the intensity of the proposal. Staff believes that party may not have been familiar with the existing conditions and the A-1 requirements. He reviewed each of the findings. Regarding finding one, Mr. Ritz said the lot width is 96 feet, the lot depth is 180 feet, and the lot size is 17,000 feet which creates a special circumstance not self-imposed by the property owner. Regarding finding two, he said due to the special circumstances the strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would prohibit an addition to the garage in line with the existing garage. It would also prohibit the additions proposed at the rear of the home in line with the existing side of the house. The lot coverage required in the A-1 district would prohibit the construction of these additions and the freestanding accessory building. The surrounding properties have setbacks that are similar to those proposed by the applicant. Mr. Ritz said with regard to finding three, the requested side and front yard setbacks are the minimum necessary to construct the proposed additions on the lot. The requested lot coverage is also required to construct the room additions and a new accessory building on the lot. No other relief from the zoning requirements is proposed as part of this variance request. Regarding finding four, he said the requested building setbacks and lot coverage are consistent with the other properties in the surrounding area and will not detrimentally affect any neighboring properties. The surrounding neighbors have side yard and front yard setbacks that are similar to what are being requested. Mr. Ritz added the variance request appears to meet all four findings and should be approved. If the Board decides to grant the variance, it should be subject to three stipulations as noted in the staff report. May 14,2015 Board of Adjustment Page 3 Board member Feiner asked if there were other homes in this subdivision with 30% lot coverage. Mr. Ritz said although he did not do a detailed study, accessory buildings and custom homes are frequently found in this subdivision so it is highly likely there are properties with 30% lot coverage. In response to a question from Board member Dietzman, Mr. Ritz confirmed it would be a wire fence six feet in height. The neighbor did not wish to have a block wall as her horses may feel confined. Chairperson Toops asked if the fence is a building code issue or a zoning issue. Mr. Ritz explained that would be a zoning issue. He added that residential fences are allowed at six feet high unless they are backing onto arterial streets in which case eight feet is allowed. Chairperson Toops called the applicant. Mr. Lucas Stroberg introduced himself and stated there are homes in the area at or above 30% lot coverage. He was proposing a block fence only to keep his backyard items out of view of the neighbor. Mr. Stroberg said after working with his neighbor, he agreed not to construct a block fence but rather a chain link. Chairperson Toops opened the public hearing. With no further questions or comments, Chairperson Toops closed the public hearing. Based on the facts and evidence presented, Mr. James Gruber, Assistant City Attorney, requested a vote from the Board. He read each finding and waited as the Board responded. Finding One. Chairperson Toops called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board responded with a vote of 4 to 0. Finding Two. Chairperson Toops called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board responded with a vote of 4 to 0. Finding Three. Chairperson Toops called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board responded with a vote of 4 to 0. Finding Four. Chairperson Toops called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board responded with a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Gruber asked, based on the findings, if the Board wished to grant variance VAR15-02, subject to the stipulations set forth by the Planning Division. Board member Feiner made a motion to approve VAR15-02 subject to the stipulations listed in the staff report. Board member Zarra seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 4 to O. May 14,2015 Board of Adjustment Page 4 OTHER BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Chairperson Toops called for Other Business From The Floor. Ms. Perry said there was none. PLANNING STAFF REPORT Chairperson Toops called for the Planning Staff Report. Ms. Perry said there was none. BOARD COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Chairperson Toops called for Board Comments and Suggestions. There were none. NEXT MEETING: June 11, 2015 ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Board member Zarra made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board member Dietzman seconded the motion, which passed with a vote of 4 to 0. The meeting adjourned at 4:21pm.