07-12-2001 Regular Meeing and Public Hearing

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• Staff Report. January 24, 2002 Variance Request WOM01 Requested by: Mr. Al Fairfield representing La Porte Venture LTD. Requested for: - Waiver from the City's multi -family building setbacks of 25'-201-20: Location: Churchill Place Apts. 1201 S. Broadway Blocks 1121, 1122, and lots 1, 2, 31, and 32 of Block 1160 Harris County I Hunter Abstract - 35 Zoning: General Commercial (G.C.) blocks 1121, 1122 Residential 3 (FL-3) block 1160 lots 1, 2, 31, and 32 Background: Churchill Place is a proposed apartment complex designed exclusively for the. senior population. (See Exhibit #A.) The project is proposed on 6.22 acres and consists of two blocks (1-121 and 1122) zoned G.C. and four lots from one block (1160) zoned- R-3. Seventy-two (72) units are proposed in 18 quadraplex buildings.. Eighteen (18) units contain one -bedroom and 54 units contain two- bedrooms. The property also has a clubhouse ' and 89 parking spaces (84 and 5 ADA accessible). The overall density is 11.6 dwelling units per acre. On November 30, 2001, staff received a site plan for the development. On December 10, staff mailed and faxed written comments to the -developer about items that needed to be addressed. A major issue involved building setbacks. During review, staff used the following sections of the City's. zoning ordinance: Section 106441 - Almost 90 percent of the property is zoned General Commercial (GC) and the remainder is Residential 3 (R-3). Residential housing is an allowed use in a GC zone. While the project is a quadraplex, it exceeds the maximum of 10 dwelling units per acre to be considered as a quadraplex, as shown in Section 106-333 Table B. After reviewing the City's regulations, the project was determined to be multi -family; therefore, staff applied the standards for R 3 to -the project. Section 106-333 Table B — Multifamily minimum setbacks are 25' on the front, 20' on the rear, and 20' on the sides. ' Using the City's setback standards; the submitted site plan does not meet the requirements. Staff offered the following options to the applicant: • re -arrange the building layout within the existing land area to comply with setback requirements; • add additional land from Block 1160 and re -arrange the proposed project, to meet the building setbacks; or