HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-6-14 BA Minutes
* M I N U T E S *
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
February 6, 2014
City Hall, 801 Main Street
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Adjustment was held on February 6, 2014 and called to order at
3:00 p.m. with the following members present:
Chairman Dana Timaeus
Vice-Chairman Pat Avery
Board Member Joey Hilliard
Board Member Mary Jowers
Alternate Member Christopher Plaunty
Board Members absent: Board Member Kelli Maness
Alternate Member Christy Amuny
Also present: Adina Ward, Planner II; Jill Cole, Recording Secretary; Sharae Reed,
First Assistant City Attorney
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Jowers made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held
January 2, 2014. Board Member Hilliard seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried
4:0.
SWEARING IN OF WITNESSES
PUBLIC HEARING
1) File 667-BA: Request for a variance to the minimum exterior side yard building setback from
15’ to 1.1’ and the minimum interior side yard building setback from the required 5’ and the
approved variance of 1.1’ to 2.6’.
Location: 4205 Lou Street
Applicant: URS c/o Zach Martin
Ms. Ward presented the staff report. Zach Martin, representing URS Corporation, applied for
variances to the minimum exterior side yard building setback from 15’ to 2.6’ and the minimum
interior side yard building setback from 5’ to 1.1’ for the property at 4205 Lou Street.
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for
public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. In Round 1 of FEMA Disaster
Recovery efforts due to hurricanes Rita and Ike, URS was hired by SETRPC (Southeast Texas
Regional Planning Commission) to manage construction in our area. Due to success they had
during Round 1, URS was hired by the GLO (General Land Office) to manage the CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) Round 2. Most of the structures being replaced were
built in the early 1900’s and do not meet current setback requirements where they sit.
Occasionally, the lot does not meet minimum requirements for width or depth, which is the case
with the property at 4205 Lou Street.
Mr. Martin states that due to the excessive narrowness of the property, variances are necessary
to fit a new structure at this location.
The applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that all three conditions necessary
for approval have been met.
Thirty-three notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or
in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
(Board Member Plaunty arrived.)
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant=s comments.
Jennifer Mattingly, representative for URS Corporation, addressed the Board and answered
questions.
Chairman Timaeus asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made.
The public hearing was closed. Discussion followed between the Board members.
Board Member Hilliard made a motion to repeal the motion made by the Board of Adjustment at
the January 2, 2014 meeting and approve a new variance to the minimum exterior side yard
building setback from 15’ to 1.1’ and the minimum interior side yard building setback from the
required 5’ and the approved variance of 1.1’ to 2.6’at 4205 Lou Street as requested in File
667-BA. Vice Chairman Avery seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
2) File 668-BA: Request for a variance to the minimum front setback from 25' to 15'.
Location: 4090 Houston Street
Applicant: URS c/o Zach Martin
Ms. Ward presented the staff report. Zach Martin, representing URS Corporation, has applied
for a variance to the minimum front yard building setback from 25’ to 15’ for the property
located at 4090 Houston Street.
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for
public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. In Round 1 of FEMA Disaster
Recovery efforts due to hurricanes Rita and Ike, URS was hired by SETRPC (Southeast Texas
Regional Planning Commission) to manage construction in our area. Due to success they had
during Round 1, URS was hired by the GLO (General Land Office) to manage the CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) Round 2. Most of the structures being replaced were
built in the early 1900’s and do not meet current setback requirements where they sit.
Occasionally the lot does not meet minimum requirements for width or depth. This is the case
in this request.
Mr. Martin states that due to the shallowness of the property, a variance is necessary to fit a new
structure at this location.
The applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that all three conditions necessary
for approval have been met.
Twenty-three notices were sent to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor or
in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant=s comments.
Jennifer Mattingly, representative for URS Corporation, addressed the Board and answered
questions.
Chairman Timaeus asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made.
The public hearing was closed.
Discussion followed between the Board members.
Vice-Chairman Avery made a motion to approve a variance to the minimum front setback from
25' to 15' at 4090 Houston Street as requested in File 668-BA. Board Member Hilliard
seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
3) File 669-BA: Request for a special exception to the minimum front setback from 25’ to 7’.
Location: 2345 Prairie Street
Applicant: URS c/o Zach Martin
Ms. Ward presented the staff report. Zach Martin, representing URS Corporation, has applied
for a special exception to the minimum front yard setback from 25’ to 7’ for the property at
2345 Prairie.
Special exception b.3 allows an exception where the existing front yard setbacks of the various
lots in the same block are not uniform, so that any one of the existing front yard setbacks shall,
for a building, hereafter, constructed or extended, be the required minimum front yard depth.
The remaining houses to the east and west of this property are approximately 7’ from the front
property line which will allow the new structure to line up with those on either side of it.
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for
public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. In Round 1 of FEMA Disaster
Recovery efforts due to hurricanes Rita and Ike, URS was hired by SETRPC (Southeast Texas
Regional Planning Commission) to manage construction in our area. Due to success they had
during Round 1, URS was hired by the GLO (General Land Office) to manage the CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) Round 2. Most of the structures being replaced were
built in the early 1900’s and do not meet current setback requirements where they sit.
Occasionally the lot does not meet minimum requirements for width or depth. This is the case
in this request.
Mr. Martin states that due to the shallowness of the property, a special exception is necessary to
fit a new structure at this location.
Thirty-one notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No
responses in favor or in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Discussion between the Board, Ms. Ward and Mrs. Reed followed regarding the distinction
between a special exception and a variance
Chairman opened public hearing and asked for comments. No comments were made. The
public hearing was closed.
Board Member Hilliard made a motion to approve a special exception to the minimum front
setback from 25’ to 7’ at 2345 Prairie Street as requested in File 669-BA. Board Member
Jowers seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
4) File 670-BA: Request for a special exception to the minimum rear setback from 15’ to 6’.
Location: 4385 Bob Street
Applicant: URS c/o Zach Martin
Ms. Ward presented the staff report. Zach Martin, representing URS Corporation, has applied
for a special exception to the minimum rear yard setback from 15’ to 6’ for the property at 4385
Bob Street.
Special exception b.2 allows an exception on corner lots. The structure will need to be pushed
back to 6’ from the rear property line at this corner location to fit on the lot, as is evidenced by
the existing structure.
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for
public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. In Round 1 of FEMA Disaster
Recovery efforts due to hurricanes Rita and Ike, URS was hired by SETRPC (Southeast Texas
Regional Planning Commission) to manage construction in our area. Due to success they had
during Round 1, URS was hired by the GLO (General Land Office) to manage the CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) Round 2. Most of the structures being replaced were
built in the early 1900’s and do not meet current setback requirements where they sit.
Occasionally the lot does not meet minimum requirements for width or depth, which is the case
at this location.
Mr. Martin states that due to the shallowness of the property, a special exception is necessary to
fit a new structure at this location.
Twenty-seven notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property.
No responses in favor or in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant’s comments.
Ms. Mattingly addressed the Board and answered questions.
Chairman Timaeus asked for comments in favor or in opposition. None were made. The
public hearing was closed.
Board Member Hilliard made a motion to approve a special exception to the minimum rear
setback from 15’ to 6’ at 4385 Bob Street as requested in File 670-BA. Board Member Jowers
seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
5) File 671-BA: Request for a special exception to the minimum front setback from 25’ to 15’.
Location: 1060 Doucette Avenue
Applicant: URS c/o Zach Martin
Ms. Ward addressed the Board. Zach Martin, representing URS Corp. has applied for a special
exception to the minimum front yard setback from 25’ to 15’ for property at 1060 Doucette.
Special exception b.3 allows an exception where the existing front yard setbacks of the various
lots in the same block are not uniform, so that any one of the existing front yard setbacks shall,
for a building, hereafter, constructed or extended, be the required minimum front yard depth.
The remaining houses to the east of this property are approximately 15’ from the front property
line which will allow the new structure to line up with the houses closest to the property.
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for
public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. In Round 1 of FEMA Disaster
Recovery efforts due to hurricanes Rita and Ike, URS was hired by SETRPC (Southeast Texas
Regional Planning Commission) to manage construction in our area. Due to success they had
during Round 1, URS was hired by the GLO (General Land Office) to manage the CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) Round 2. Most of the structures being replaced were
built in the early 1900’s and do not meet current setback requirements where they sit.
Occasionally the lot does not meet minimum requirements for width or depth. This is the case
in this request.
Mr. Martin states that due to the shallowness of the property, a special exception is necessary to
fit a new structure at this location.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant’s comments. Ms.
Mattingly was present for discussion.
Chairman Timaeus asked for comments in favor or in opposition. None were made. The
public hearing was closed.
Board Member Jowers made a motion to approve a special exception to the minimum front
setback from 25’ to 15’ at 1060 Doucette Avenue as requested in File 671-BA. Board Member
Plaunty seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
OTHER BUSINESS
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:54
P.M.