HomeMy WebLinkAboutCover Letter 082521To Whom it May Concern:
Property owners, Noel and Jordan Uzick, are requesting a variance for the property 5912 Scenic Drive
within the city of Little Rock. When the property was purchased, there was an existing residential home
in very poor livable conditions; therefore, the initial property was torn down in January of 2020. The
original property had a 20-foot offset in the front as well as a 10-foot offset on each side with a 2-foot
offset by the pool. The intention for the future of this property is to rebuild a new single-family
residence with a 2-car garage in the front and keep the existing pool. Based on compliance with the
current code, the side yard setback requirement for our lot of record is 8 feet (not to exceed 10% of the
width of the lot), and the front yard setback requirement for our lot of record is 20 feet. However, in an
effort to provide a consistent aesthetic appearance in the neighborhood, maintain appropriate safety
distances from the existing pool, and to comply with the existing slope of the land, we are requesting a
variance to permit the relocation of the house on the site plan 3 feet on each side and 1 foot in the front
of new home.
We are requesting a 3-foot side yard variance on each side of the house. It is relevant to note that our
architect, Nathan Alderson, finalized the plans of our project with a 5-foot side yard setback on both the
right and left sides of the residential project. He operated under the assumption that other homes in the
area are positioned with a 5 -foot or less side yard setback. Additionally, homes up and down the street
are positioned with 5-foot or less side yard setbacks. Our desire is to build a new home that will be
consistent with both the aesthetic appearance of the Heights neighborhood as well as other homes on
the street. With the requested variance on either side, we will not have to revise the plans to build a 3-
story home. The additional 3 feet of space on each side allows our plan to be kept a one-story home
with a basement that is consistent with all neighboring homes. Eliminating 6 feet from our plan to
comply with zoning standards would not allow us to keep the minimum requirements for the interior
floorplan on 2 floors. Further, our neighbors have requested that we keep the home consistent with
existing structures to avoid a disruption on the street. The requested variance would allow us to achieve
this goal. We do not want to overpower the aesthetic look of the street with the only 3 story home in
the area. We love the quaint, traditional look of the older homes in this area, and we are taking many
steps in our plans to ensure that our home looks as if it had been built the same time as neighboring
homes.
As noted above, the original home, along with the existing residential homes on Scenic Drive were built
on a 20-foot setback, and the current zoning ordinance effective for Scenic Drive requests a 20-foot
setback. Based on site maps of neighboring properties, many of the older homes do not meet the 20-
foot setback requirement. The requested 1-foot variance would be consistent with the other homes on
Scenic Drive and would continue the spirit of the other homes on this street. Our desire is to build a new
home that will be consistent with the aesthetic appearance of the Heights neighborhood as well as
other homes on the street. It is also worth noting that it is our intention with the additional 1-foot
setback to include a circle drive in front of the single-family residence. This will allow for additional
parking at our home so that cars would not have to be parked on the street as a hazard to others.
Further, there is an existing pool on the property, which was put in by the previous owners with the
original property. It is our intent to keep the pool with the new residence. In efforts to comply with code
and safety standards, it is also our intent to put in some sort of level of safety precaution around the
pool, such as a fence. By moving the project from a 20-foot setback to a 19-foot setback, there will be an
additional 1 foot of pool deck and increased footage for safety precaution. It is of the utmost important
to us to be able to ensure that the pool is not a safety hazard to children or others while playing outside.
Shifting the house on the site plan with a 1-foot variance would help us achieve a greater level of safety
with 6 total feet from the house to the pool.
What is perhaps the most relevant here, and what we would ask the board to consider is 1) the 19-foot
front setback variance and both 3-foot side yard variances are in the spirit consistent with the other
homes on Scenic Drive; 2) the proposed style and structure of the house is in step with the existing
neighborhood; 3) the variances requested creates no undue burden on any neighboring residence or
property; and 4) the proposed project would be an improvement to the neighborhood and result in an
overall increase in property value and tax base created by improvement. We would love to answer any
further questions or provide any further information that could make this process as smooth possible.
All of the above requests have been laid out on the attached site plan for your review.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Noel and Jordan Uzick