05-23-13 Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

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Staff Report May 23, 2013 Variance Request #13-93000001 Requested by: James F. Beck (Property Owner) Requested for: Reduction of side building line from 5' to 3' for the construction of a carport. Legal Description: Lots 10 & 11, and south 1/z of lot 9 & north 1/z of lot 12, Block 216, Town of La Porte, Johnson Hunter Survey, Abstract No. 35, La Porte, Harris County, Texas. Location: 307 S. Iowa Street Zoning: Low Density Residential (R-1) Background: Per the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) record, this single-family dwelling was built in 1942 with land area of 9,375 S. F. The primary residence with one story wood frame equals 944 S. F. A one story wood garage in the back was built with the house. Applicant intends to build a 15.5'x41' (636 s.£) carport to the west side of the primary residence along with a 20'x55' concrete driveway. Per Section 106-771(4) of the City's Code of Ordinances, the front and side yard carports are permitted for single-family detached houses subject to the following requirements: a. Carports in a required front or side yard shall not be located closer than rive feet from any front or side property line. b. Carports located on corner lots shall not be located closer than twenty-five feet an intersection. c. The maximum width of a carport located in a required front or side yard shall be twenty-five feet. Per this request, a carport be constructed three feet off the side property line in violation of the above referenced section of the ordinance. The applicant requests to allow the carport to be built 3' off the west side property line in lieu of 5' as permitted by the ordinance. Analysis: Section 106-192(b)(1), in the Code of Ordinances, defines a variance as a deviation from the literal provisions of the chapter, which is granted by the Board when strict conformity to the chapter would cause an unnecessary hardship because of the circumstances unique to the property on which the variance is granted. Section 106-1 defines carport as "...a roofed structure, freestanding or attached to another structure designed to provide covered parking for vehicles, with no enclosing walls, and must be located directly over a driveway."