HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-15 Special Called Meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment minutes� o
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of October 14,2015
Board Members Present: Charles Schoppe, Chester Pool, T.J. Walker, Nettie Warren (Alt 1), and
Doug Martin (Alt 2)
Board Members Absent: Rod Rothermel
City Staff Present: City Planner Eric Ensey, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, and Office
Coordinator Peggy Lee
1. Call to Order.
Vice-Chairman Charles Schoppe called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
2. Roll call of members.
Board Members Charles Schoppe, Chester Pool, T.J. Walker, Nettie Warren (Alt 1), and Doug
Martin (Alt 2)were present for roll call.
3. Consider approval of meeting minutes: February 26,2015 and May 28,2015.
Motion by T.J.Walker to approve the meeting minutes of February 26, 2015, and May 28, 2015.
Second by Chester Pool. Motion carried.
Ayes: Schoppe, Pool,Walker,Warren (Alt 1),and Martin(Alt 2)
Nays: None
4. A public hearing will be held to consider Variance Request 15-93000010, a request by
Christopher Thebeau for the property located at 1703 Roscoe to allow foundation repair to an
existing carriage house that encroaches 12.7' into the front setback contrary to the provisions
of Section 106-333 of the city's Code of Ordinances which requires a minimum 25 foot front
setback.
Vice-Chairman Schoppe opened the public hearing at 6:04 p.m.
a. Staff Presentation
City Planner Eric Ensey presented staffs report on a variance request by Christopher
Thebeau to allow foundation repair to a carriage house that encroaches 12.7 into the front
setback at 1703 Roscoe Street.
Mr. Ensey confirmed that all requirements for public hearing notification had been met. 21
notices of the public hearing were mailed to property owners located within 200' of the
subject site. The City received six responses,all in favor of the request.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of October 14,2015
Page 2 of 5
b. Applicant Presentation
Vice-Chairman Schoppe swore in the applicant, Christopher Thebeau. Mr. Thebeau intends
to restore the carriage house in a manner that retains its historical character. The variance
is necessary in order to reconstruct the new foundation in the same location.
c. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
d. Question and Answer
There were no questions.
Motion by Doug Martin to approve Variance Request#15-93000010, allowing foundation repair
to a carriage house that encroaches 12.7' into the front setback at 1703 Roscoe.
Second by Nettie Warren. Motion carried.
Ayes: Schoppe, Pool,Walker,Warren(Alt 1),and Martin(Alt 2)
Nays: None
Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read from Section 106-196 of the Code of Ordinances: Appeals
from the Board of Adjustment.
S. A public hearing will be held to consider Variance Request#15-93000009,a request by the City
of La Porte's Parks and Recreation Department for the property located at 402 N. 5th Street
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Park) to allow construction of a 4' high ornamental iron fence along
the north property line within the front yard contrary to the provisions of Section 106-522, of
the city's Code of Ordinances which prohibits fencing in the front yard.
Vice-Chairman Schoppe opened the public hearing at 6:11 p.m.
a. Staff Presentation
City Planner Eric Ensey presented staff's report on a variance request by the City's Parks and
Recreation Department to allow construction of a 4' high ornamental fence along the north
property line within the front yard at 402 N. 5th Street known as Martin Luther King,Jr. Park.
The fence will serve as a barrier between the adjacent property owner and the park.
Mr. Ensey confirmed that all requirements for public hearing notification had been met.
Notices of public hearing were mailed to 34 property owners located within 200' of the
subject site. The City received one written response from the public in favor of the variance.
b. Applicant Presentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of October 14,2015
Page 3 of 5
Vice-Chairman Schoppe swore in Rosalyn Epting, Director of Parks and Recreation for the
City of La Porte. Ms. Epting explained the City has been working with the adjacent property
owner to address their concern about park patrons not knowing where the public property
ends and the private property begins. The fence is intended to alleviate this problem.
c. Public Comments
Vice-Chairman Schoppe swore in Ms. Garcia,who resides at 414 N. 5th, adjacent to the park.
Ms. Garcia favors the variance because the fence will help to keep people that use the park
out of her yard.
d. Question and Answer
There were no questions.
Motion by Nettie Warren (Alt 1) to approve Variance Request #15-93000009, allowing
construction of a 4'high ornamental iron fence along the north property line within the front
yard at 402 N. 5th Street.
Second by Doug Martin (Alt 2). Motion carried.
Ayes: Schoppe, Pool,Walker,Warren(Alt 1),and Martin(Alt 2)
Nays: None
Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read from Section 106-196 of the Code of Ordinances: Appeals
from the Board of Adjustment.
6. A public hearing will be held to consider Variance Request 15-93000011, a request by Mark
Follis for the property located at 116 S. Broadway to allow construction of a
residential/commercial building on a lot zoned Main Street (MS) District that is setback 0'
from the front property line and 0' from the side (north) property line contrary to the
provisions of Section 106-443 of the city's Code of Ordinances which requires a front setback
equal to the average of all structures on the block and a 5' side setback; and a detached
garage that is 3'from the rear property line and 0'from the north(side) property line contrary
to the provisions of Section 106-741 which requires a 20'rear setback and a 5'side setback.
Vice-Chairman Schoppe opened the public hearing at 6:20 p.m.
a. Staff Presentation
City Planner Eric Ensey presented staff's report on a variance request by Mark Follis to allow
construction of a residential/commercial building setback 0' from the front and north side
property lines and a detached garage that is 3' from the rear property line and 0' from the
north side property line at 116 S. Broadway. If approved, the zero lot line Main Street
development pattern, historical in nature, would continue along S. Broadway for this
property,which is in the Main Street District.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of October 14,2015
Page 4 of 5
Mr. Ensey confirmed that all requirements for public hearing notification had been met.
Notices of the public hearing were mailed to 14 property owners located within 200' of the
subject site. The City received one written response in favor of the variance.
b. Applicant Presentation
Vice-Chairman Schoppe swore in Mark Follis, 111 N. Broadway. Mr. Follis discussed his
future development plans in the area. The first structure, for which this variance is
requested, will be a single story building. Mr. Follis and Mr. Ensey responded to a question
about how the required front setback is calculated.
c. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
d. Question and Answer
There were no questions.
Motion by Doug Martin to approve Variance Request 15-93000011 allowing construction of a
residential/commercial building that is setback 0' from the front and north side property lines
and a detached garage that is 3'from the rear property line and 0'from the north side property
line at 116 S. Broadway.
Second by Chester Pool. Motion carried.
Ayes: Schoppe, Pool,Walker,Warren (Alt 1),and Martin(Alt 2)
Nays: None
Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read from Section 106-196 of the Code of Ordinances: Appeals
from the Board of Adjustment.
7. Administrative Reports
City Planner Eric Ensey introduced the recently hired Planning Technician, Ryan Cramer. Mr.
Cramer will be assisting the Planning and Development Department under the supervision of
Mr. Ensey.
Mr. Ensey spoke about a problem the city has been experiencing with untimely mail delivery by
the postal service. A majority of Board/Commission members have been getting their packets
delivered just before the meeting or in some cases, after the meeting has already been held.
Staff will no longer mail agenda packets. The information will be sent out via email and will also
be accessible on the city's website. Additionally, hard copies will be available for all members at
the meeting and may also be picked up prior to the meeting at the City Hall Information Desk.
When a meeting is scheduled, Board Members will receive a copy of the public hearing notice by
email.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes of October 14,2015
Page 5 of 5
8. Board comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific factual
information or existing policy.
There were no comments from the Board.
9. Adjourn
Motion by Charles Schoppe to adjourn. Second by Chester Pool. Motion carried.
Ayes: Schoppe, Pool,Walker,Warren (Alt 1),and Martin(Alt 2)
Nays: None
Vice-Chairman Schoppe adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m.
Respe Ily submitted,
Peggy Le
Secretary,Zoning Board of Adjustment14
Passe nd Appro ed oniiL 2015.
Rod Rothermel
Chairman,Zoning Board of Adjustment