Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6360 Staff AnalysisAugust 25, 1997 I. row File No.: Z-6360 Owner: John and Gay Meadors Address: 1801 N. Spruce Description: All of Lot 101 and part of Lots 100 and 102, Shadowlawn Addition Zoned• R-2 Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the fence/wall height restrictions of Section 36-516. Justification: A licant`s Statement: Our primary justification for building this wall is for security. The wall will close off our driveway access to Cantrell Road. We will be placing a new drive on the north side of our home with access onto Spruce Street. We have noted several incidents where homeless persons and other random individuals have wandered off of Cantrell Road into our back yard and gone through our garage and property. We have two young children, as well as numerous neighborhood children, who enjoy playing in our backyard. We are deeply concerned for their safety and security knowing these people wander about without warning. We would also benefit from the noise reduction from Cantrell Road and gain needed privacy. For these reasons noted above, with utmost importance placed on the safety and security reasons, we are requesting a variance from the requirement of the Zoning Ordinance. Present Use of Propert : Single Family Proposed Use of Property: Single Family August 25, 1997 Item No.: 5 (Cont.) Staff Report: A. Public Works Comments: 1. The rock wall shall not be constructed in the right-of- way, the owner would be required to relocate at their expense upon request of the city. 2. The rock wall shall be constructed for adequate sight distance at the intersection. Recommend a 45 degree angle, 10 feet off property corner. B. Staff Analysis: The applicants propose to construct a 7-8 foot tall, stone wall along a portion of the south and east property lines of the R-2 zoned property located at 1801 N. Spruce. A stone and wrought iron wall currently exists along these property lines. A 7 foot tall stone wall will be constructed along the eastern 100 feet of the south property line and extend approximately 66 feet along the eastern property line to tie in to an existing wall. The wall will enclose the applicant's rear yard, providing security and relief from the noise of traffic on Cantrell Road. Due to the slight slope of the terrain, the wall will reach 8 feet in height at the southeast corner of the property. The code limits fences or walls erected within setbacks adjacent to streets to 4 feet in height. Staff believes the variance request to be reasonable. The property wall is not out of character with other such structures in the area. The wall will be constructed within the property and is indicated to be 7.5 feet from the curb of Cantrell Road. The wall will not extend past the front of the house and, as such, should not create a sight distance problem at the intersection of North Spruce and Cantrell. The applicant's driveway onto Cantrell Road will be eliminated and a new driveway constructed onto Spruce Street. This in itself eliminates a potentially dangerous situation. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of a height variance to allow for construction of a 7-8 foot tall stone wall. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (AUGUST 25, 1997) The applicant, Gay Meadors, was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval. 2 August 25, 1997 em No.: In response to a question from Chairman Alderfer, Ms. Meadors stated that the access to the property off of Cantrell Road would be completely closed off by the new wall. She stated that the new wall would be built of stone, like the existing 4 foot tall wall. The question was called and a vote taken on the variance request. The vote was 8 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent, approving the variance. 3