3A Public Hearing 2008 0707 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts of Board of Zoning Adjustments Regular Meeting April 17, 2008 Minute 11'a. 2008-08 Page 5 of 7 Ms. Collier stated that Ms. Johnson and Mr. Woolston were correct with their comments. However, the dense foliage already created dense shadow on Ms. Johnson's deck. She passed photos that showed Ms. Johnson's whole house was in full shadow most of the day caused by the existing house. When she was on the applicant's property in the morning, the windows were in full shade. Chair Goldt asked if a room addition or granny unit could be added rather than a separate unit. Ms. Collier replied that would require two separate generations to live in, essentially, the same house. A smaller addition could be added, but there was the problem with the required parking, which was why atwo-story had been designed. The narrowness of the lot prevented the required turning ratio for parking at the rear of aone-story addition. Member Marr asked if a granny unit would be possible. Ms. Collier said that a granny unit could be no larger than 240 square feet, which would be like a large family room. She noted the two-story house across the street was a duplex with asingle- story house at the rear of a narrow lot. Very few of the lots in the neighborhood had a "green backyard." Most had a structure in the rear or an apartment house with driveway that used all of the lot. Looking at the aerial photo, she noted that the subject property had one of the largest green backyards of any of the other homes. Secretary Penaranda added that secondary dwellings were allowed only in single-family zoned districts and not allowed in the DA District. This district allowed duplexes and multi-family residences. Ms. Christian stated that this was the second time she and her husband had appeared before the Board and neither time had there been a full Board. She felt it was unfair that this decision could be made without the full Board in attendance. This street had many apartments, rooms upstairs, two houses on one lot, duplexes. It seemed they had tried everything, but nothing was acceptable except this design. Member Shields asked the applicant if she would be comfortable with tabling this item again. Ms. Christian replied that she would prefer a full Board make the decision. Chair Goldt stated that having a full Board was unpredictable. Secretary Penaranda added that staff works two to three weeks ahead to schedule and notice a hearing. Ms. Christian stated, again, that the opposing neighbors' mature foliage covered everything and that it was higher than their existing house. Member Gilcrest asked if a detached, two-story home could be built at the rear of the lot near the four-story apartment building, with parking behind the existing house. This would allow no structure to be immediately impeding upon the neighbor's light.