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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 12-09-2015MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AMES, IOWA DECEMBER 9, 2015 The Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment met, pursuant to law, in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on December 9, 2015, in the Council Chambers of City Hall with the following members present: Kyle Perkins, Michael Davis, Shelby Ebel, Susan Bradbury and Matthew Koehler. Staff members Justin Moore and Jessica Spoden were also present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by Perkins, seconded by Koehler, to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 12, 2015. Vote on Motion: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. CASE NO. 15-23 VARIANCE – Bruce and Judy Vance, 1023 Hyland Avenue Public Hearing on application for a Variance request to allow additional overhead garage door lineal footage beyond the 27 foot limit at 1023 Hyland Avenue* Assistant City Planner Justin Moore displayed a location map and site plan for the project. The property is a lot measuring 543 feet deep on the north side, 330 feet deep on the west, 331 feet deep on the south and 303 feet deep on the east leading to the driveway which travels to a 30 foot deep frontage point at Hyland Avenue. The property is a single-family home with a two-car attached garage. The width of the current garage doors totals 18 feet and the home is currently the only structure on the property. He noted that the applicant has requested approval of a Variance to the City’s standard that limits the cumulative amount of garage doors on a property to 27 linear feet. The City adopted this standard in 2010 to clarify that there was no limit on the amount of parking spaces, but there was a limit on the size and amount of garage door. The applicant’s specific request is for a total of 34 feet of cumulative garage door width as part of the construction of an additional detached garage. The addition of 16 feet of additional overhead garage door would exceed the maximum allowed cumulative garage door width by 7 feet. Mr. Moore noted that the property owner could add one additional 9-foot garage door to the property without seeking a variance. The site plan, project description, applicable law, and findings of fact and conclusions were reviewed in detail by Mr. Moore. He explained that City staff has reviewed the request and recommends that the Board deny the request. City staff found that the applicant only met two of the six applicable criteria needed for this Variance. Bruce Vance, 1023 Hyland Avenue, was sworn in and testified under oath. Mr. Vance feels that the garage would not affect any of his neighbors as his home is mostly surrounded by timber. He also said that he spoke with all of his surrounding neighbors and none of them voiced concerns or opposition toward the construction of the garage. Judy Vance, 1023 Hyland Avenue, was sworn in and testified under oath. Ms. Vance said that although their home is not recognized as a historical home, they feel it is historical due to the very well-known, respected professor and architect in Ames, Leonard Wolfe, who designed the home. She explained to the Board that the garage would fit perfectly into the scheme and look of the house and garage that already exist on the property. She noted that their current garage is unique because it has a bedroom located above the garage making it difficult to fit two cars; she also said that the garage is not visible from the street. In conclusion, she informed the Board that seven neighbors gave their consent for the building of the garage. Mr. Koehler inquired that if the applicant were to request a text amendment, would the amendment be only for the applicant’s propert y or for all properties. Ms. Spoden noted that a text amendment would most likely be for all properties, not just this property in particular. Mr. Davis inquired what defines a garage door. Mr. Moore replied that a garage door is the actual door part of a garage that does not include the cut out or space surrounding the garage doors. Ms. Spoden further explained that a garage door is defined as a large door on a garage that opens manually or electronically; a building or shed for housing motor vehicles. Mr. Koehler asked how the applicant described the current structure in the application. Mr. Moore replied that the applicant described the structure as a detached garage. Mr. Davis inquired how the current garage is used and how the potential future garage would be used. Ms. Vance noted that the current garage would be mostly used as a shop area and for storage, potentially one vehicle, while the new garage would house primarily vehicles. Mr. Perkins questioned if it would be possible to add another nine feet of garage space on to the current garage structure. Ms. Vance feels the aesthetics would be much worse and that the look of the house would be a lot different from the current look and they don’t want to alter that. In brief, the Board could not find supporting, legitimate reasoning for the applicant to meet all six criterion for the Variance. Moved by Koehler, seconded by Perkins, to deny ORDER NO. 15-23, thereby denying the request for a Variance to allow additional overhead garage door lineal footage beyond the 27 foot limit, based on the findings of fact and conclusions. Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. Ms. Ebel asked if any members had proposals for a meeting time change. Mr. Koehler suggested 5:30 p.m. which Mr. Perkins countered with 6 p.m. Ms. Bradbury and Mr. Perkins noted that they want to be sure the meeting time is an accessible time for the public to be able to attend. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Koehler to move the regular meeting time for the Zoning Board of Adjustment from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. effective Wednesday, January 13, 2016. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1. Voting aye: Ebel, Koehler, Bradbury, Perkins. Abstaining: Davis. Motion declared carried. COMMENTS: There were no comments by the Board. ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Koehler, seconded by Perkins, to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m. _____________________________ _________________________________ Erin Cain, Recording Secretary Shelby Ebel, Chair