11-12-13 Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting

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Board of Adjustment November12, 2013 Page 2 The homeownerintends to build a house, whichrequires a buildable area 78.8’ depth of to accommodate bay window in the master bedroom. Using the City’s setback standards for the rear building line, the submitted plan doesnot meet the requirements. Staff discussedthe following options with the applicant: re-arrange the building layout within the existing lotarea to comply with setback requirements;or submit a variance to the Board of Adjustment seeking relief ofthe rear building setback. Citing Section 106-192 B (2) b, the applicant is seeking a variance to reduce the required rear setbackfrom15’to 11.2’. Theapplicanthas stated that reducing the rearbuilding setback will allow the builder to honor the executedsalescontract with the prospective buyer andsubsequentlyimprove salesof the remainder of lotsin the subdivision. Analysis :Section 106-192 B(1), in the Code of Ordinances, defines a variance as 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. Except as otherwise prohibited, the board is empowered to authorize a variance from a requirement when the board finds that all ofthe following conditions have been met. That the granting of the variance will not be contrary to the best public interest. That literal enforcement of the chapter will result in unnecessary hardship because of exceptional narrowness, shallowness, shape, topography or other extraordinary or exceptional physical situation unique to the specific piece of property in question. “Unnecessary hardship” shall mean physical hardship relating to the property itself as distinguished from a hardship relating to convenience, financial considerations or caprice, and the hardship must not result from the applicant or property owner’s own actions; and That by granting the variance, the spirit of the chapter will be observed.