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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA 2001-02-15 Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS February 15, 2001 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Dr. Tom Duer at 7:10 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present Chairman Dr. Tom Duer Dr. Rick Enlow Leslie Jauregui David Whitson Paul Young Absent Bill Schopper Kyle Bacon City Staff Director of Development Zoning Administrator Recording Secretary John Pitstick Cathy Horton Micah Johnson 3. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES APPROVED Mr. David Whitson moved to approve January 18, 2001 minutes. Seconded by Leslie Jauregui, the motion carried unanimously (5-0). 4. BA-2001-03 Public hearing to consider the request of Monda Watson for a variance to the North Richland Hills Zoning Ordinance, No. 1874: Article 10, Section 1020, Screening Walls Regulations to allow a wrought iron ornamental fence to remain instead of a required masonry screening wall. The property is known as Lot 1 R, Block 1, Tapp Addition, and is located at 5201 Rufe Snow. 1 APPROVED Chairman Tom Duer opened the public hearing and asked that those in favor of this request please step forward and explain their request. Monda Watson, project manager for Richland Pointe Business Center, introduced herself and the manager of The Hilltop Apartment Complex, Tim Cobb. Ms. Watson explained that she is requesting, in agreement with Mr. Cobb, that the present wrought iron fence between the apartment complex and the business center remain. Ms. Watson then allowed Mr. Cobb to speak on behalf of the apartment complex. Mr. Cobb is requesting that the fence be allowed to remain in order for the apartment complex to keep their hilltop view in which they have always enjoyed. Mr. Whitson asked how long the fence has been at the establishment. Mr. Cobb said that he has owned the property for about a year and the fence was there when he bought the property. With no opposition to the request, Chairman Duer closed the public hearing. Mr. David Whitson asked what percentage of the business center is being occupied at present. Ms. Watson responded that 54% of the building is occupied with parking at the east and north of the business center. Ms. Watson also pointed out that besides a hardship of money there are a few other concerns with putting up a masonry-screening wall. The wall would be on a slope and they feel this would create unsafe conditions with a possibility of the wall falling. The applicants feel that the combination of a masonry wall and wrought iron fence will collect trash. Chairman Duer did agree that the wrought iron fence is very attractive and the sloping does bring up a safety issue. He would like to see a 6-foot vegetation- screening wall applied instead. John Pitstick pointed out that the business center is zoned C2, which allows businesses to be open 24 hours a day, thus the lighting and parking could be a nuisance around the clock. Chairman Duer then entertained a motion. Mr. David Whitson motioned to approve that the wrought iron fence be allowed to remain, with the stipulation that a 6-foot living screening wall be planted instead of the masonry-screening wall required by the Zoning Ordinance. Seconded by Paul Young, the motion carried (4-1). 2 5. BA-2001-04 Public Hearing to consider the request of A. Jane Vandenbosch for a variance to the North Richland Hills Zoning Ordinance, No. 1874: Article 1, Section 150A, Side Yard Regulations to permit the encroachment of 11.6 feet over a 25 foot platted side yard building line. The property is known as Lot 17, Block 5, Richland Hills West Addition, and is located at 6427 Jerrell Street. APPROVED Chairman Duer opened the public hearing for discussion and asked that the representative of the variance please step forward. Linda Westbrooke, daughter of Ms. Vandenbosch, spoke on behalf of her mother. Upon trying to sell the house, the appraisal process revealed that the house was originally built over the side yard building line. The subdivision was platted in 1954 and built in 1968. She would like to have a variance to allow the encroachment of the house so they may sell it. Mr. Paul Young asked if she was aware that the house was over the building line in 1968 when they purchased the house? Ms. Westbrooke was unable to answer his question. The hearing was closed and the committee was asked for comments or questions. There being none, Chairman Duer entertained a motion. Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Jauregui, motioned to approve the request. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 6. Public Hearing to consider the request of Byron Montgomery for a variance to the North Richland Hills Zoning Ordinance, No. 1874: Article 4, Table 4.1, 1. Minimum Lot Area from 7,500 to 5,564 square feet, and 2a. Minimum Lot Width from 65 feet to 52 feet. The property is known as Lots 2 & 3, Block 3, Stoney Ridge Addition, and is located at 7116 & 7120 Michael Drive APPROVED Opening the public hearing, Chairman Duer asked that anyone who would like to speak in favor of the request please step forward. 3 Byron Montgomery, owner of the property approached the committee with his plans for lots 2 & 3 of the Stoney Ridge Addition. Mr. Montgomery bought the lots with the intention of moving the trees, but has since realized this will not happen. He then entertained the idea of combining the lots and building one large house, but due to this causing a very high lot and house cost, he decided against this. He has even tried to sell portions of lot 2 to the person on lot 1 and to the city, in order to save the trees. He feels that he has finally found the solution to use the land and save the trees. Being the builder for 5 other homes in the subdivision, he will be building these two homes for resale. At the present time, he does have a buyer interested in the larger lot and home, but the smaller house will be a spec home. Mr. Ken Miley of 7012 Spring Creek, Watauga, Texas, spoke in favor of the request. Mr. Miley would like to purchase Lot 2 in which the larger house will be built. He and his wife are looking for something that has an older neighborhood look that is framed out by the trees on lot 2. The public hearing was closed and questions and comments were requested from the committee members. Dr. Rick Enlow, made a motion, seconded by Mr. Whitson, to approve the movement of the lot lines making lot 3, 52 feet wide, with a stipulation that the home built on this lot would have a minimum of 1,900 square feet of living area. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 7. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were none. 8. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS Mr. John Pitstick made an announcement that there would be a Joint Work Session for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan on Monday, February 19, 2001 at 7202 Dick Fisher Drive. 9. 4 ADJOURNMENT Having no additional business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. /~Ø~ Chairman Tom Duer 5