03-24-05 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Zoning Board of Adjustment

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Staff Report May 26, 2005 Variance Request #V05-002 Requested by: Requested for: Location: Zonm!!: Back!!:round: Analvsis: Parks & Recreation Department, City of La Porte Us. 7 thru 14, 15& 16, Block 50, Sylvan Beach Park Subdivision, La Porte. 600 Park Drive, Sylvan Beach Depot Mid-Density Residential (R-2) The City of La Porte owned the property located at 600 Park Drive near the Sylvan Beach Park, a historic place in the southeast Harris County. The property is further described by the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) as Lots 7 thru 14 of Block 50, Sylvan Beach Park. The historic Sylvan Beach Depot and Centennial Statue are located on the same park site. The City owns 2/3 of the block and is working towards acquiring the northern 1/3 portion (lots 15&16) through condemnation process. The Park facility has a history of several acts of vandalism and other security concerns related to the Centennial Statue and historic Depot. This variance requests seeks to remove the existing chain link fence around the Park area, to install a new fence, and extend the fence along an entire block (see Exhibit A) with a galvanized ornamental iron fence to protect the property from future acts of theft and vandalism. Per Section 106-791 of the Ordinances, fences, structure, grading, or barrier hedges are not permitted within the required landscaped portion of any yard or the front yard setback. The property mentioned above (lots 15& 16 of block 50) is too narrow to develop. Based on the zoning regulations, building setbacks for the subject property (see Exhibit B), zoned Mid Density Residential, are as follows: . Along Park Drive front 20' . Along Bayshore Drive rear 20' (through lot) . Along San Jacinto Street side 20' . Along the Railroad Museum side 10' As described above, the property does not comply with the residential area requirements for any kind of development within R-2 zone. Section 106-1 92(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 106-791 prohibits fences in front yard setback. Except as otherwise prohibited, the board is empowered to authorize a variance from a requirement when the board finds that all of the following conditions have been met: