Board of Adjustment Minutes 2006 02 15

Home Browse Search

Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes February 15, 2006 Page 2 of 5 Public Notice Verification: Schwertfeger verified the public notice requirements: published in the Daily Camera; posted in City Hall, the Public Library, the Recreation Center and the Courts and Police Building; mailed to surrounding property owners within 500 feet of the subject property; the property was posted with the required signage and the appropriate fees were paid. Loeblich moved and Stuart seconded a motion to accept the Public Notice Verification information as presented by staff. Motion passed by voice vote. Stat! Presentation of Facts and Issues: Johnstone provided the following summary: . Application is for 1100 Grant Avenue, which is a residential property in the Old Town Overlay Zone District and residential low density (RL) zoning. . An existing home of approximately 2,000 SF. . The subject property is four (4) platted lots within the Capitol Hill Addition subdivision, totaling 12,750 SF, which is greater than the 7,000 SF minimum requirements for the RL zomng. . However, since no combination of the 4 existing lots can meet the minimum 7,000 SF requirement, the City considers this to be one singe (indivisible) parcel. . The property is under contract to be purchased and the potential new owners are proposing to raze the existing house and split the property into two roughly equal lots for new single family construction. . In order for that to occur, the Board would need to grant relief from the minimum lot area requirement of7,000 SF and the minimum lot width requirement of70 feet. . The variances requested are for lots 6,500 and 6,250 SF and 50 and 52 feet in width. . If the Board granted these variances, a minor subdivision plat would also be required and would be reviewed through the Planning Commission and City Council public hearing process. . The Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed and approved the demolition permit for the existing structure and they had no additional comments at their meeting. . Johnstone indicated that the Board has had similar cases involving lot size and width variances in the past several years. . The Board has approved similar cases (around 4) oflot size and width variances in the past several years. Previously, staff had difficulty supporting the requests, finding that some, but not all of the variance criteria had been met. However, in reviewing this case, we have departed from our past recommendations of disapproval and we are supporting this request for a variance. . The staff review of the criteria included the following comments: 1. Unique physical circumstances. Typical dimension of old town lots is 25 by 125 - not easily divisible into 7,000 square feet. A 102-foot lot is certainly very wide and large in area by Old Town standards. Two lots totaling 6,250 SF and 50 feet in width most closely relates to the 7,000 size in the zoning. This criterion has been met. 2. Conditions do not exist through the neighborhood. Based on field work completed by the applicant, only 5 of the 82 lots surveyed included 4 platted lots. This criterion has been met.