Laserfiche WebLink
7851 Spring Lake Road Variance Report <br />August 20, 2014 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />c. The applicant proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by this <br />Title or the City Code. <br /> <br />The property owner has built a detached garage in the backyard for space to park vehicles inside <br />and for storage. The Zoning Code requires an improved surface driveway for garages that are <br />accessed regularly, and there is not enough room next to the house for a driveway to have a five <br />foot setback. The reduced setback would not be the full length of the driveway. <br /> <br />d. Unique circumstances apply to the property which do not apply to other properties in the <br />same zone or vicinity and result from lot size or shape, topography or other circumstances over <br />which the owner of the property since the enactment of this Title has had no control. The unique <br />circumstances do not result from the actions of the applicant. <br /> <br />This house was originally built in 1938 and had a few additions constructed over the years. This <br />property has also had property line adjustments on the north and south sides because of original <br />building placement of homes and garages on the street. <br /> <br />e. The variance does not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />The applicant’s neighborhood consists of different sized lots, and is wooded. The new driveway <br />will have no effect on the look of the property from the street. The neighbor’s house that would be <br />most affected by the reduced setback of the driveway is separated from the proposed driveway by <br />a wooded area. <br /> <br />f. The variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the practical <br />difficulties. Economic conditions alone do not constitute practical difficulties. <br /> <br />The 4-foot 4-inch variance is the minimum variance needed since that is what the Zoning Code <br />requires for a driveway setback. <br /> <br />g. The Planning Commission may impose such conditions upon the premises benefited by a <br />variance as may be necessary to comply with the standards established by this Title or to reduce <br />or minimize the effect of such variance upon other properties in the neighborhood, and to better <br />carry out the intent of the variance. The condition must be directly related to and must bear a <br />rough proportionality to the impact created by the variance. <br /> <br />Staff has no suggestions for conditions for the variance request. The Planning Commission may <br />add conditions as they see applicable. <br /> <br />Public Hearing: <br />As with any requested variance, this application requires a public hearing. Staff mailed notices to <br />all property owners within 350 feet of the applicant’s property and a notice was published in the <br />Sun Focus newspaper on Friday, August 8, 2014. Staff has not received any comments or <br />questions as of August 15, 2014.