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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-7-17 BA Minutes * M I N U T E S * BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT December 7, 2017 City Hall, 801 Main Street A Meeting of the Board of Adjustment was held on December 7, 2017 and called to order at 3:01 p.m. with the following members present: Chairman Dana Timaeus Board Member Jeff Beaver Board Member Joey Hilliard Alternate Board Member Lee Smith Board Members absent: Alternate Board Member Christy Amuny Alternate Board Member Tom Rowe Also present: Adina Josey, Senior Planner; Fran Malvo, Recording Secretary, Sharae Reed, Assistant City Attorney APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Member Beaver made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 2, 2017 Regular Meeting. Board Member Hilliard seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 4:0. SWEARING IN OF WITNESSES PUBLIC HEARING The applicants were informed that four favorable votes are needed in order to pass an item. They were given the opportunity to present or defer their cases based on the number of board members present. 1) File 724-BA: Consider a request for a Variance to the required 10 foot wide landscaped buffer at the rear of the property. Applicant: Mark Maher, Jr. for International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 450 Location: Between 5925 and 5955 Caswell Road Mrs. Josey presented the staff report. The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 450, plans to construct a new lodge between 5925 and 5955 Caswell Road. The property backs up to a residential district and is therefore required by ordinance to maintain a 10 foot wide landscaped buffer along the rear property line. On behalf of Local 450, Mark Maher, Jr., is requesting a variance to this 10 foot wide landscaped buffer. The applicant intends to use the space for additional parking and rear access to the structure. Per the zoning of the property and size of the proposed structure, regulations require 12 off street BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT December 7, 2017 parking spaces. The proposed site plan includes 27 parking spaces, 3 being parallel parking spaces across the front of the property. The 3 parallel parking spaces, 9 feet wide, could be removed. In addition, per ordinance, half of the 6 foot wide landscaped buffer at the front property line can be on the city right-of-way. The entire site plan could be moved forward 12 feet on the lot, leaving more than sufficient room for the required 10 foot landscaped buffer at the rear of the property. The applicant shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that all three conditions necessary for a variance have been met. Slides of the subject property were shown. Fourteen (14) notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses were received in favor and one was received in opposition. A brief discussion followed. The applicant, Mark Maher, P.O. Box 1410, Mount Belvieu, TX addressed the Board. Mr. Maher is the Business Rep for Local 450. Mr. Maher stated that there was a Pre-Development meeting several months ago regarding the landscape buffer. He stated that instead of having 10 feet of grass he wishes to have 8 feet of concrete and 2 feet of grass. The neighbor that opposed the Variance expressed concerns of standing water in her back yard. Mr. Maher stated that during the Pre-Development meeting, he was told that he is required to have underground draining. Mr. Ollie Walker, 6020 Marcus Drive, addressed the Board. Mr. Walker spoke in favor of the request. Mr. Walker stated that he would agree to the terms of the Variance on the condition that the 8 foot fence is installed. A brief discussion followed. Board member Hilliard made a motion to approve a request for a Variance to the required 10 foot wide landscaped buffer at the rear of the property as requested for File 724-BA. Board member Smith seconded the motion. Motion to deny Comment \[FM1\]: The motion should carried 3:1 (Timaeus). read motion to approve failed 3:1 Di (Timaeus).There were only 4 board members present. S OTHER BUSINESS None. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:39 p.m. 2