HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-1-11 BA Minutes*MINUTES*
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
September 1, 2011
City Hall, 801 Main Street
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Adjustment was held on September 1, 2011 and called to order at 3:00
p.m. with the following members present:
Chairman Dana Timaeus
Vice -Chairman Pat Avery
Board Member Bob Harris
Alternate Member Kelli Maness
Alternate Member Christy Amuny
Board Members absent: Board Member Joey Hilliard
Board Member Mary Jowers
Alternate Member Christopher Plaunty
Also present: Steve Richardson, Planning Manager; Adina Ward, Planner; Jill Cole,
Recording Secretary; Tyrone Cooper, City Attorney; Sharae Bassett,
Assistant City Attorney 11
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Harris made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held August
4, 2011. Board Member Amuny seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 4:0.
SWEARING IN OF WITNESSES
PUBLIC HEARING
1) File 627-BA: Request for variances to the minimum side yard building setbacks from 5' to 1.6' and
5' to 1.5'.
Location: 1945 W. Lucas
Applicant: Chris Smith
Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. The property owner would like to construct a carport and
a covered deck onto the front of her house. The carport would be 1.6from the north property line
and the covered deck would be 1.5' from the south property line. The house is 1.6' from the north
property line and 1.5' from the south property line.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
September 1, 2011
Chris Smith, the applicant, states that if the carport must adhere to the 5' side building setback, the
posts for the carport would be located approximately 2' into the existing driveway. The driveway
would have to be expanded to the south to enable the property owner to park her car.
The applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that all three conditions necessary for
approval have been met.
Twenty-two notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. No responses in favor and one
in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
(Vice Chairman Avery arrived.)
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for comments.
Melinda Smith addressed the Board on behalf of her husband, Chris Smith, the contractor for the
project.
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 Maness made a motion to approve a request for variances to the minimum side yard
building setbacks from 5' to 1.6' and 5' to 1.5' on property at 1945 W. Lucas as requested in File 627-
BA. Board Member Amuny seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0.
2) File 626-BA: Request for a variance to the minimum front yard building setback from 25' to 10'.
Location: 1050 Neches
Applicant: J. Rob Clark for Architectural Alliance
Mr. Richardson presented the staff report. Rob Clark, architect for Eastham Forge, states that
Bastham is constructing a new administrative office building and parking for plant and
administrative staff on a portion of the block bounded by Gilbert, Trinity, Milam and Neches. The
placement of the building, with its 10' setback along Trinity, takes into account creating a more
natural transition between the surrounding business commercial environment and the industrial
portion of the Eastham Forge facilities by setting the new office building back from Neches Street
with landscaped parking for the administrative staff. Mr. Clark says that Eastham Forge has entered
preliminary discussions related to abandoning the short section of Trinity between the plant facilities
and the new office building so as to better control security and create a safer working environment.
However, no application has been made for the abandonment.
The applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that all three conditions necessary for
approval have been met.
2
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
September 1, 2011
Eighteen notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet. Four responses in favor and none
in opposition were returned.
Slides of the subject property were shown.
Chairman Timaeus opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments.
Rob Clark, Architectural Alliance, addressed the Board.
Chairman Timaeus stated that he would be abstaining from File 626-BA.
Chairman Timaeus asked for comments in favor or opposition. No comments were made. The
public hearing was closed.
Board Member Maness made a motion to approve a variance to the minimum front yard building
setback from 25' to 10' for property at 1050 Neches as requested in File 626-BA. Board Member
Harris seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 4:0:1 (Timaeus)
OTHER BUSINESS
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:26 P.M.
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