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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA 2003-07-24 Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS JULY 24,2003 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Duer at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present Chairman Alternate Dr. Tom Duer Beth Davis Chris Putnam Jim Kemp Absent Alternate Leslie Jauregui Perry Christensen Fonda Kunkel City Staff City Planner Recording Secretary Donna Jackson Holly Blake 2. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF JUNE 26, 2003 APPROVED Jim Kemp, seconded by Beth Davis, motioned to approve the minutes of June 26, 2003. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). CHAIRMAN DR. TOM DUER EXPLAINED THE VOTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. ANY REQUEST THAT GOES BEFORE THIS BOARD MUST RECEIVE A SUPER MAJORITY (75%). THIS BOARD IS A 5 MEMBER VOTING BOARD. FOR ANY VARIANCE TO PASS IT MUST RECEIVE 4 AFFIMATIVE VOTES. TONIGHT THIS BOARD ONLY HAS 4 VOTING MEMBERS, THEREFORE ANY VARIANCE TO PASS IT WOULD TAKE A UNANIMOUS DECISION (100%). Page 1 7/24/03 ZBA Minutes 3. BA 2003-07 PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST BY J.D. JONES FOR A VARIANCE TO NORTH RICHLAND HILLS ZONING ORDINANCE NO 1874: ARTICLE 6, SECTION 630.D.7 & D.13.a. & b. SECTION D.7 LIMITS ACCESSORY CARPORTS TO A MAXIMUM OF 360 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE. SECTION 13 a. & b. REQUIRE THE PITCH OF THE ROOF TO BE A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST FOUR VERTICAL TO TWELVE HORIZONTAL ON EACH SIDE OF THE RIDGE AND SUPPORT COLUMNS ARE REQUIRED TO BE OF MASONRY CONSTRUCTION. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM THE 360 SQUARE FEET TO 880 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE WITH A VARIANCE TO THE ROOF PITCH AND METAL SUPPORT COLUMNS. THE SITE IS LOCATED AT 6204 ONYX DR. N. CASE BA 2003-07 INCLUDES THREE VARIANCE REQUESTS WITH THREE MOTIONS. THE FIRST AND SECOND VARIANCE REQUEST WAS APPROVED AND THE THIRD VARIANCE REQUEST WAS DENIED. BELOW IS THE EXPLANATION OF MOTIONS. Donna Jackson, City Planner, summarized the case. Mr. Jones is located at 6204 Onyx Drive. Mr. Jones is requesting to build a carport in front of his existing garage. The garage is located in the rear of the property. The applicant is requesting three parts to his variance; 1) build an 880 square feet carport instead of the regulated 360 square feet, 2) vary the roof pitch to a slope instead of the regulated four vertical to twelve horizontal roof pitch, and 3) build metal poles instead of the regulated masonry columns. In 1989, this property and Mr. Jones were granted a variance to build a garage up to the 5-ft. utility easement that is existing now. Chairman Duer opened the public hearing and asked if anyone would like to speak in favor of this case. J.D. Jones, 6204 Onyx Drive, came forward. Mr. Jones stated that all of his neighbors have no objections to this variance. The carport will not be visible except to Bill and Martha May and they have no objection to the variance either. The garage is 40-ft. across, which is the reason for the size of the carport. Chairman Duer asked Staff for the pictures of the property. Chairman Duer asked the applicant if the existing 2-car garage is useable for parking. The applicant responded yes. Mr. Jones stated that the reason for the pitch variance is because he is not sure what that will turn out to be. Mr. Jones stated that he plans to make it 10-ft. in the back and 8-ft. in the front. Mr. Jones stated that Staff has statements from all Page 2 7/24/03 ZBA Minutes the neighbors explaining that they have full knowledge of the project and are in favor of the variances. Chairman Duer asked Staff for the statements. Beth Davis asked Mr. Jones why he believes this to be a hardship and why he believes the board should grant these variances. Mr. Jones stated that he did not believe this to be a hardship. Mr. Jones has a large pick-up truck that will not fit in a standard garage; however Mr. Jones explained that he would like to keep it under something in order to protect it. Mr. Jones stated that it will not be unsightly, because it will be in the rear yard. Mr. Jones stated that he could legally build an 18-ft. x 20-ft., but it would only be half of the building. Mr. Jones believes that would look worse than a full carport. Beth Davis asked the applicant what were the current sizes of the parking places in the secondary garage to the rear of the property. Mr. Jones answered that it was 30-ft. x 40-ft. Beth Davis asked the applicant if his pick-up truck would fit in there. Mr. Jones answered that his pick-up truck would fit in that garage. Mr. Jones also explained that he has some old cars that he would like to keep protected. Chairman Duer asked the applicant if he knew the total square footage of the property. Mr. Jones stated that he did not know. Chris Putnam pointed out to the applicant that without the carport, there are five useable garages, including three that are in the 30-ft. x 40-ft. garage. Chairman Duer stated that this was only going to be a cover, not an enclosed garage. Mr. Jones agreed. Chairman Duer asked the applicant what material the carport would be made of. Mr. Jones explained that it would be metal. Beth Davis asked the applicant that if the Board determined not to grant the variance on the masonry posts, would he still want to build the carport. Mr. Jones responded that he was not sure. Mr. Jones stated that he would like use 4-in. x 4-in. steel posts painted white. Chairman Duer asked the applicant how many posts would be there. Mr. Jones answered that on the east side there would be six posts and on the west side there would be three more. Page 3 7/24/03 ZBA Minutes Beth Davis asked the applicant if the cars seen in the pictures are his own vehicles that he works on for himself. Mr. Jones answered yes. Chairman Duer stated that he did not have a problem with the carport, because it would be unseen, however Chairman Duer does have some hesitation with the metal posts. Things have changed since 1989 when the previous variance was granted. In today's time, this may not have been passed. For the past seven to ten years, the City has been trying to get away from carports and accessory buildings larger than 500 square feet. Due to this, there is some reluctance to approve carports. That is the way the Board has seen it from the City leaders for many years. However, in this case, the carport would be in the rear of the property and unseen from the street. The reason for the hesitation on the posts is due to the City leaders. If carports are granted, City leaders would like to see an upgraded version that matches with the house, instead of a tin add on. Mr. Jones stated that when he built the shop in the back, he had to match the brick on the house. Even at that time, it was almost impossible. Mr. Jones finally found the matching brick in Arkansas. Today, Mr. Jones is not sure where he would find matching brick. Jim Kemp asked Staff what the definition of masonry was. Donna Jackson stated that masonry is a combination of brick and stone. Up to 15% of the surface no closer than 8-ft. from the adjacent grade level can use EIFS systems. Mr. Jones stated that if he gets approval for this variance that the carport would be esthetically nice. The steel columns would match the roof. Beth Davis asked Mr. Jones how long he has lived at this property. Mr. Jones stated 25 years. Beth Davis explained that the concern of the Board is that any approval goes with the land, not the owner. If in the future the property is sold or reverted to heirs, the approval will remain with the property. Chairman Duer asked Staff if the three variance requests could be divided up. Donna Jackson responded yes. Chairman Duer asked if anyone else would like to speak regarding BA 2003-07. There were none and Chairman Duer closed the public hearing. Beth Davis asked Staff to explain the roof pitch. Donna Jackson and Jim Kemp explained that for every 1-ft across, the pitch needs to go up 4-in. Jim Kemp stated that due to the size of the carport, the required roof pitch would not look good or would not match the existing garage. Page 4 7/24/03 ZBA Minutes Beth Davis, seconded by Jim Kemp, motioned to approve the square footage variance from 360 square feet to 880 square feet. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). Jim Kemp, seconded by Chris Putnam, motioned to approve the four vertical to twelve horizontal roof pitch variance to a lesser pitch with the maximum height not to exceed 10-ft at the edge of the roof and no lower than 8-ft. at the very end. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). Beth Davis, seconded by Chairman Duer, motioned to approve the request to maintain a carport without masonry support columns. The motion did not pass (2-2) with Chris Putnam and Jim Kemp voting against the variance. 4. ADJOURNMENT Having no additional business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. ?'~ IJ-- ~ Chairman Duer Page 5 7/24/03 ZBA Minutes