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Minutes November 15, 2005
City of Georgetown
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Minutes
November 15, 2005, at 6:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers, 101 E. 7th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Danny Swafford, Chair; Ann Snell; Richard Vasquez III; Earl Watson; Jim Jarvis,
alternate; Patrick Lawson, alternate
Members absent: Audrey McDonald, Will Moore
Staff present: Bobby Ray, Acting Director of Planning & Development, Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
This is a regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Georgetown. The Board,
appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, acts on requests for variances, interpretations and special
exceptions under the Georgetown Zoning Ordinance.
Order of Hearing Process:
Staff makes a presentation of the project to the Board;
The applicant is provided an opportunity to present their project to the Board;
The Board asks questions of both Staff and the applicant;
*The Public Hearing is open and both proponents and opponents are invited to speak;
The Public Hearing is closed and the Board deliberates on the merits of the case; and,
The Board generates findings to support their decision, a motion is made and seconded and a
vote is taken on the motion presented.
Variance approvals require an affirmative vote of 4 members of the Board.
* Those who speak, please identify yourselves for the meeting record.
Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m.
Call to order: 6:02 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. Action from Executive Session – There was not an Executive Session.
2. Consideration and possible action to nominate and elect a Vice Chair and Secretary for the new Term of
Membership for the Commission (tabled from the March meeting).
Motion by Snell to elect Earl Watson as Vice-Chair. Second by Jarvis. Earl Watson was elected
unanimously. Watson nominated Snell for Secretary and she declined. No one else stepped forward for
position of Secretary so this nomination will be tabled until the next meeting.
Mr. Vasquez arrived and took a seat on the dais. Mr. Lawson, the alternate, relinquished his voting at this
time.
3. Consideration and possible action on the Minutes of the regular Board of Adjustment meeting of September
20, 2005.
Motion by Watson to approve the minutes as presented. Second by Snell. Approved 5-0.
4. Public Hearing to Consider a Variance from Table 6.02.030 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) to
allow the structural repair of a detached garage and storage building located within the required side yard
setback, for a part of the Hughes Addition, Block 15 located at 1807 South Elm Street.
Bobby Ray gave the staff report, citing that the applicant is proposing to make improvements to both
detached structures while maintaining the existing side yard setback of one foot 9 inches. The UDC
requires a minimum side yard setback of six feet. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow
Zoning Board of Adjustment Page 2 of 2
Minutes November 15, 2005
the strengthening and repair of a legal nonconforming structure that encroaches four feet – three inches into
a side yard setback. The applicant’s basis for the variance request is solely based upon the removal of
mature trees to accommodate the Code required setback. Staff is in support of the variance request and
states this reasoning has been used to justify similar variances in the Old Town Overlay District.
Bobby Watson, 1703 Elm, spoke in favor of the request and supports and encourages improvements such as
the one being proposed.
Motion by Watson to grant the approval of a variance based on the findings of fact cited in Exhibit F of the
staff report. Second by Vasquez. Approved 5-0.
5. Public Hearing to Consider a Variance from the following Unified Development Code (UDC) Section:
4.05.040(D)(4) to allow parking within the front yard where parking is prohibited, for Crestview Addition
Unit 1, Block 2, Lot 8 located at 1616 Williams Drive.
Bobby Ray presented the staff report. He explained with the recent adoption of the rezoning ordinance to OF,
Office district the applicant is proposing to use the existing structure for a professional office. The proposal
involves the addition of approximately 675 square feet to the structure for a total area of 2,430 square feet. The
parking standards for the Overlay District (1:300) would require a total of 8 on-site parking spaces. The
applicant is proposing to provide a total of 9 spaces and 1 handicap space. Due to site topography the proposed
location of the detention pond is to the rear of the property. This location is consistent with the design
standards of UDC Section 11.05.030(F)(1). However, the proposed placement of the pond creates a conflict with
the location of on-site parking to the rear of the building.
Staff is supportive of the variance from Section 4.05.040(D)(4) to allow the on-site parking spaces to be located
within the front of the property. This recommendation is subject to compliance with the screening
requirement of the same section, which requires a “vegetative screen or fence or wall having a minimum
height of 3 feet”. The submitted site plan provides a proposed berm with landscaping in the front setback.
Also, the rear buffer yard requires a 6-foot high screen wall constructed of brick, stone, reinforced concrete
or other similar two-sided masonry materials.
Brian Bishop, the applicant’s architect was available for questions. There were no questions.
Motion by Vasquez to approve the variance from Section 4.05.040(D)(4) to allow parking within the front
yard, where parking is prohibited, for Crestview Addition Unit 1, Block 2, Lot 8 located at 1616 Williams
Drive, with findings of fact as noted in Exhibit C of the Staff Report. Second by Watson. Approved 5-0.
6. Possible other topics for consideration.
Ann Snell stated that she appreciates the details of the packets that were submitted for review and that it
made it much easier for the Board to review the applications and make a case for their decisions. Ray
concurs and said that this month’s applications were more detailed and thorough which made the packets
more complete. He asked if the Board liked being given the Findings of Fact that staff writes. They all
agreed that it was very helpful.
Motion by Jarvis to adjourn the meeting. Second by Vasquez. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
_______________________________________ ___________________________________________
Approved, Danny Swafford, Chair Attested, Earl Watson, Vice-Chair