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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Board Of Adjustment - 02/26/2020MINUTES BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI City Hall Council Chambers 1201 Leopard Street February 26, 2020 1:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER: 1:30PM II. ROLL CALL: Members present: David Walker, Burris McRee, Tim Voorkamp, Gordon Robinson, Shawn Karaca, Bryan Johnson Members absent: none A quorum was established at 1:31PM III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 22, 2020 Burris McRee made a motion to approve the minutes; seconded by David Walker. Motion passed unanimously. V. APPEALS – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING: 1. Appeals a. Appeal No. ZBA 0220-01, Lenter Investments, LLC.: Special Use Exception (SUE) to allow for the storage of hazardous materials on a tract of land addressed as 522 South Navigation Boulevard and described as Lots 2, 3, and 6, Block 10, J.C. Russell Farm Blocks, located along the east side of South Navigation Boulevard, south of Santa Elena Street, and north of Gypsum Road. Andrew Dimas gave the staff report. The board’s approval of the SUE is only the first step in the process: the Fire Department will review all safety concerns after approval. Staff recommended approval of the Special Use Exception. Board members asked if any explosive or radioactive materials will be stored on the property; Mr. Dimas stated the materials are flammable, but not explosive or radioactive. Refilling of tanks is an accessory use of the business, not the primary business. Board members asked about the safety inspection process, which Mr. Dimas explained is conducted by the Fire Department annually. There was no public comment for this item. Bryan Johnson made a motion to approve; seconded by David Walker. Motion passed unanimously. b. Appeal No. ZBA 0220-02, Charles and Stacey Dearing: Special Use Exception (SUE) to allow for an accessory building to exceed 50% of the total square footage of the main principal structure and a request for a variance to allow a building to encroach across a platted lot line on a tract of land addressed as 426 Jester Street and described as Lots 19, 20, and 21A, Block 5, Flour Bluff Heights, located along the north side of Jester Street, east of Carleta Street, and west of Marzbacher Avenue. Andrew Dimas gave the staff report. Mr. Dimas pointed out that the property was originally four lots, but the owner replatted two of those lots into one lot and stressed that even if the board approves the variance, the permit application would still have to meet code requirement and the owners may be directed at that time to replat again. Staff recommended approval of the appeal Special Use Exception and variance. Board members asked why the owner didn’t replat all four lots into one lot. Mr. Dimas explained they just went through the platting process without realizing their lean-to would cross the lot line. Board members voiced concerns about set-back issues; Mr. Dimas agreed that was possible, in addition to fire clearance concerns. The board stated those concerns could render an approval by the board moot. Board members asked about the four notice returns in opposition to the appeal, asking if all four came from a single property owner; Mr. Dimas confirmed they did, and the reason listed for the opposition was that granting the appeal would not increase property values. Property owner Charles Dearing addressed the board during public comment for this item. He said he didn’t replat because the rules changed since he first built his house and he was initially told he needed a separate lot to build his accessory structure; he could not build on the same lot as his house. The rules changed recently, so he replatted two of his four lots into one but didn’t include the third lot was because he didn’t know he would need it. It was expensive for him to replat the first time, so he was reluctant to replat again but said he will if it’s necessary. He stated his property is in the best condition in the neighborhood, and he believes his accessory buildings wouldn’t negatively impact property values and may increase them. The board asked Mr. Dearing if he planned to operate a business on the property. Mr. Dearing stated he owns his own business off-site, and only wants to use the structure to store vehicles he currently has in storage units on his property for easy access. He does not plan to do any major maintenance on the vehicles on the property. The board agreed the SUE was straightforward, but the variance was problematic because Development Services will ask the owner to replat even if they grant the variance. David Walker made a motion to approve the Special Use Exception; seconded by Tim Voorkamp. Motion passed unanimously. David Walker made a motion to deny the variance; seconded by Burris McRee. Motion passed with all but Tim Voorkamp voting to deny. VI. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: None. VII. ADJOURNMENT: 1:58PM ________________________________________ Shawn Karaca, Chair City of Corpus Christi Board of Adjustment