03-17-1994 Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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® • • Page 3 of 5 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting of April 21, 1994 Development Ordinance Variance Request The Planning and Zoning Commission is charged to evaluate a variance request based only on the conditions listed above. If a variance request in the Commission's judgement, does not satisfy these conditions, it should not be granted. In reviewing this request for ordinance compliance, staff finds the following: This lot has no unusual physical characteristic which would make compliance with this ordinance unfeasible. The applicant cites the fifty foot lot width as a restrictive feature. This is however, not an overly restrictive lot width. Lots 16 and 17 in combination satisfy the minimum width requirements of both the Zoning and Development Ordinances. Furthermore, there are numerous homes in the surrounding neighborhoods also located on fifty foot lots that have been constructed with attached and detached garages that are accessible from the fronting streets. There are no physical constraints that require alley access in order to develop this or other typical fifty foot lots. Denial of the variance would not impose a hardship. As noted, there are numerous fifty foot lots that have homes with garages accessible from the fronting streets. It is the specific floor plan chosen by the applicant and not constraints of the property that cause the need for alley access. This request is based on convenience rather than hardship. Granting this variance would be contrary to the purpose and goals of the Development Ordinance. Granting the variance would be contrary to the safety and welfare of the surrounding neighborhood and could be injurious to adjacent properties. As the factors relating to these two conditions are so closely related, both criteria will be addressed as a single discussion. The 16 foot alley of Block 74 is typical of most alleys in the Bayfront and Town of La Porte survey tracts. It, as with these other alleys, is primarily used as a utility corridor. Underground utilities include potable water, sanitary sewer and • natural gas. Overhead utilities consist of electrical, telephone and cable television services.