HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Boards of Adjustment - Meeting Date: 3/10/2016 MINUTES
CITY OF GLENDALE
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUILDING
CONFERENCE ROOM B-3
THURSDAY, MARCH 10,2016
4:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at approximately 4:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Board members Zarra, Crowley, Dietzman, Feiner, Blakely and Vice Chairperson Vescio, were in
attendance. Chairperson Toops was absent and excused.
CITY STAFF
Tabitha Perry, Assistant Planning Director, Russ Romney, Deputy City Attorney's Office, Martin
Martell, Planner and Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary were present.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for approval of the December 10, 2015 Regular Meeting minutes.
BOARD MEMBER DIETZMAN MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE
DECEMBER 10, 2015 MEETING MINUTES, AS WRITTEN. BOARD MEMBER CROWLEY
SECONDED THE MOTION.
WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES
Vice Chairperson Vescio asked staff if there were any requests for withdrawals or continuances. There
were none.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for staffs presentation on the public hearing items.
1. VAR16-01: A request by Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por La Causa, for a variance
to reduce the side yard building setbacks on the property from the required twenty (20) feet to
five (5) and ten (10) feet on a fifty (50) foot wide vacant parcel in the R-3 (Multiple Residence)
Zoning District, which will allow the property owner to construct a new livable home. The site is
located at 6715 North 60th Avenue and is located in the Ocotillo Council District. Staff Contact:
Martin Martell, Planner.
Martin Martell, Planner, stated this was a variance request by Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por
La Causa, for a variance to reduce the side yard building setbacks on the property from the required 20
feet to five and ten feet on a fifty foot wide vacant parcel in the R-3 Zoning District, which will allow the
March 10,2016
Board of Adjustment Minutes
Page 2
property owner to construct a new livable home. He said the site is located at 6715 North 60th Avenue
and is located in the Ocotillo Council District.
Mr. Martell stated the applicant mailed notification letters on November 24, 2015 to adjacent property
owners and interested parties. He stated the applicant received two responses regarding this proposal
and these responders wanted a better understanding of what will occur on the property. To date, staff
has not received any questions or comments concerning the subject site.
Mr. Martell reviewed staffs findings.
1. There are special circumstances/conditions applicable to the property including size, shape,
topography, location or surroundings,which were not self-imposed by the owner;
He noted that the vacant 50' wide lot located in the R-3 Zoning District, which has 20' perimeter
setbacks, makes it very difficult to construct a livable home on this property. He stated that if
these development standards were applied it will result in a home that will only be 10' wide. He
indicated the desire to construct a new single family home on this vacant lot is difficult if some
exceptions to these standards are not granted.
2. Due to the special circumstances, the strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would
deprive the property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the same classification in
the same zoning district;
He said that many of these surrounding properties are all in the R-3 Zoning District, which have
minimum lot widths of 60' and side yard setbacks of 20 feet. He added that in contrast, the
majority of lots on this street with the R-3 zoning designation are on lots that are 50' wide with
side yard setbacks of 5' and 10'.
3. The variance requested is the minimum necessary to alleviate the property hardships.
He noted that this request to reduce the side yard setbacks will permit the construction of a
livable home that will conform with the width of many of the homes on this same street.
4. Granting the variance will not have a detrimental effect on the property, adjoining
property,surrounding neighborhoods or the city in general.
He noted that this request to reduce the side yard setbacks will permit the construction of a
livable home that will conform to the width of many of the homes on this same street and not
detrimentally affect any neighboring properties.
Mr. Martell stated 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 the following stipulation listed in the staff
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Board of Adjustment Minutes
Page 3
report. He concluded his presentation and stated he was available for questions. The stipulation is listed
below.
1. Development shall be in conformance with the applicant's narrative, site plan, and floor plan,
dated November 24, 2015.
Vice Chairperson Vescio asked if the Board had any questions.
Board member Zarra noted a discrepancy on page four. He indicated that the photograph was incorrect
on the document and the site was not on 60th Avenue and was actually on 59th Drive. Tabitha Perry,
Assistant Planning Director, explained that page four was part of the citizen participation process to
identify the properties that are mostly affected. She added that even though the map shows an error, the
required notifications were sent to the right parties and the intent of the notification in the citizen
participation process was met. She added that all other documentations as it relates to this site plan are
correct.
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for the applicant to make a presentation.
Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por La Causa, stated he had nothing to add but would be happy to
answer any questions the Board may have. There were no questions from the Board.
Vice Chairperson Vescio opened the public hearing. Hearing no one wishing to speak, she closed the
public hearing.
Vice Chairperson Vescio asked the Board for any further questions or comments. There were none.
Based on the facts and evidence presented, Mr. Romney requested a vote from the Board. He read each
finding and waited as the Board responded.
Finding One. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Two. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Two. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Three. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Three. The
Board responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Four. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Four. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Mr. Romney asked that if based on the findings, does the Board wish to grant variance VAR16-01
subject to the stipulations set forth by the Planning Division.
March 10,2016
Board of Adjustment Minutes
Page 4
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a motion.
BOARD MEMBER ZARRA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CASE No. VAR16-01 SUBJECT
TO THE STIPULATION IN THE STAFF REPORT. BOARD MEMBER DIETZMAN
SECONDED THE MOTION,WHICH WAS APPROVED WITH A VOTE OF 6 TO 0.
The MOTION was APPROVED with a vote of 6 to 0.
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for the next application.
2. VAR16-02: A request by Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por La Causa, for a variance
to reduce the side yard building setbacks on the property from the required twenty (20) feet to
five (5) and ten (10) feet on a fifty (50) foot wide vacant parcel in the R-3 (Multiple Residence)
Zoning District, which will allow the property owner to construct a new livable home. The site is
located at 6717 North 59th Drive and is located in the Ocotillo Council District. Staff Contact:
Martin Martell,Planner.
Martin Martell, Planner, stated this was a variance request by Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por
La Causa, for a variance to reduce the side yard building setbacks on the property from the required
twenty (20) feet to five (5) and ten (10) feet on a fifty (50) foot wide vacant parcel in the R-3 (Multiple
Residence) Zoning District, which will allow the property owner to construct a new livable home. The
site is located at 6717 North 59th Drive and is located in the Ocotillo Council District.
Mr. Martell stated that on October 16, 2015, the applicant mailed notification letters to adjacent property
owners and interested parties. He noted that to date Planning Staff has not received any response
regarding the request.
Mr. Martell reviewed staffs findings.
1. There are special circumstances/conditions applicable to the property including size,shape,
topography, location or surroundings,which were not self-imposed by the owner;
He said that the lot size creates a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property
owner. Presently the size of the lot is just 50 feet wide with a 20-foot perimeter setback. Thus,
with these required development setbacks and current lot size, development will only allow for a
10 feet wide home which would be unrealistic for this property.
2. Due to the special circumstances, the strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would
deprive the property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the same classification in
the same zoning district;
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Board of Adjustment Minutes
Page 5
He stated that the majority of homes in this neighborhood are not in conformance with the
current development standards of the R-3 Zoning District. These homes typically have
residential side yard setbacks of 5 and 10 feet. In addition, the majority of the lots in this
neighborhood are on parcels that are only 50 feet wide when the minimum lot width for
properties in this zoning district is 60 feet.
3. The variance requested is the minimum necessary to alleviate the property hardships.
He said the request reduction on the north and south side yard building setbacks will permit the
construction of a livable home which will match the size of many existing homes on this street.
4. Granting the variance will not have a detrimental effect on the property, adjoining
property,surrounding neighborhoods or the city in general.
He explained the reduction of the side yard building setbacks will be indiscernible from the street
and will permit the construction of the desired home and will not detrimentally affect any
neighborhood properties.
Mr. Martell stated 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 the following stipulation listed in the staff
report. He concluded his presentation and stated he was available for questions. The stipulation is listed
below.
1. Development shall be in conformance with the narrative and site plan, date stamped
November 24, 2015, with the exception that the north side yard setback shall be 10 feet and
the south side yard setback shall be 5 feet. This will provide 15 feet between the building on
the adjacent property to the north and the future home on the subject property, which is in
keeping with other zoning districts that have side yard setbacks of 5 and 10 feet.
Vice Chairperson Vescio asked if the Board had any questions. There were none.
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for the applicant to make a presentation.
Greg Packham, representing Chicanos Por La Causa, stated he had nothing to add to the presentation,
but was available for questions.
Vice Chairperson Vescio opened the public hearing. Hearing no one wishing to speak, she closed the
public hearing.
Vice Chairperson Vescio asked the Board for any further questions or comments. There were none.
Based on the facts and evidence presented, Mr. Romney requested a vote from the Board. He read each
finding and waited as the Board responded.
March 10,2016
Board of Adjustment Minutes
Page 6
Finding One. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding One. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Two. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Two. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Three. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Three. The
Board responded with a 6-0 vote.
Finding Four. Vice Chairperson Vescio called for a voice vote on Finding Four. The Board
responded with a 6-0 vote.
Mr. Romney asked that if based on the findings, does the Board wish to grant variance VAR16-02 subject
to the stipulation set forth by the Planning Division.
BOARD MEMBER CROWLEY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CASE No.
VAR16-02 SUBJECT TO THE STIPULATION IN THE STAFF REPORT.
BOARD MEMBER ZARRA SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH WAS
APPROVED WITH A VOTE OF 6 TO 0.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for other business from the floor. There was none.
PLANNING STAFF COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for the Planning Staff. Ms. Perry informed the Board of an upcoming
appreciation event. She encouraged them all to attend the Arizona Coyotes hockey game on March 17th.
BOARD COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for Board comments and suggestions. There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chairperson Vescio called for Board comments and suggestions. There were none.
BOARD MEMBER ZARRA MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. BOARD
MEMBER FEINER SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 4:25p.m.
NEXT MEETING: April 14, 2016