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HomeMy WebLinkAboutpitkin.boa.min.03.03.2009a MINUTES Meeting of the Pitkin County Board of Adjustment March 3, 2009 Members Present: Jim Rifkin, Jamie Brewster-McLeod and Bob Thrum Co-Chairmen: Patrick McAllister and Rick Head Members Absent: Michael Cooper Staff: Susan Pearson, Zoning Officer and acting secretary Rick Head opened the meeting at 5:30pm. MINUTES: Head made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 9, 2008 meeting. Brewster-McLeod seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. Rifkin made a motion to approve the minutes fiom the September 25, 2008 meeting. Thrum seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. CASELOAD: Case # 01-2009 Sharpe Designs, LLC Lot 1, Adams Subdivision AKA 207 South 7~h Street FKA 107 South 7`h Street Architect, Heather Soper, and Project Assistant, Andi Bom were present to request a Front Yard setback variance for the construction of a residential garage on this 15,000 square foot lot in the R-15 zone district. This case was tabled from the February 3, 2009 meeting. The Affidavit of Posting for the sign had been submitted at the February 3'~ meeting and the Affidavit of Posting for the mailing was submitted and this meeting. There were no members of the public present to comment on this application. Two letters from adjacent property owners, Ronald P. Siepmann and Susan Hersey were submitted in support of the variance request. At the February 3, 2009 Boazd of Adjustment (BOA) meeting, front and side yard setback variances for the construction of a garage was requested. The three (3) member beazd in attendance were not inclined to approve the request and asked that the architect redesign the garage to reduce the amount of encroachment into the setbacks. They also suggested the applicant obtain letters of approval from neighbors. The proposed location of the garage was modified by the architects. The side yazd encroachment was eliminated and 1~3 y the front yard setback encroachment was reduced. The applicant now requests a 7 foot 6 inch Front Yazd setback variance. There is no `. `approved Building Envelope" at this time. The applicant will apply to Community Development Department for all appropriate reviews prior to permit submittal. Soper presented the Board with a survey and site plan of the subject site, as well as with photos of the neighboring houses, the existing house and access drive. Furthermore, Soper explained that the back of this site is encumbered with steep slopes that drop off to Castle Creek and the placement and location of the existing house leaves only triangulaz pockets for development outside of required setbacks. The nature of the garage is that it be rectangular in shape, and therefore does not fit without encroaching into the setback. Additionally, because of the slopes in the back of the property, development is pushed forwazd on the lot. Brewster-McLeod reviewed the site plan, studied the photos of adjacent properties and questioned the hazdship. Soper clarified the hardship as the topography of the site and explained that the original house was poorly sited on the property leaving no room for any expansion of square footage. Rifkin asked for if there was any opposition from the neighbors. There was none. A discussion ensued as to whether or not a garage could be considered a hardship. Rifkin made a motion to approve the application due to topographic hardships. Throw seconded the motion and it passed 3 - 2, with Brewster-McLeod and McAllister voting against the variance. Case # 02-2009 PT Ranch House, LLC 1888 and 1890 Castle Creek Road Glenn Hom, representing the applicant, PT Ranch House LLC., was present to request two side yard setback variances to would change the grade more than 30 inches across the common lot line to reestablish historic grade due to unusual topographic conditions. The Affidavit of Posting was submitted. Richazd Gordon, a caretaker from across the street, was present to listen to the proceedings. Horn explained the historic use of these two parcels along Castle Creek Road. He stated that the land had previously been a working ranch and many changes had been made to the property for barns and other ranching activities. At present, one family has purchased both parcels and they plan to remove the existing home, build a lazge home on one of the 2 parcels and a caretaker unit on the other. 'The two parcels will function as one pazcel. The variance request is to change the grade across the adjoining lot line to restore the historic grade. Throm was curious as to how historic grade was determined. Hom explained that after reviewing the grade on the properties on either side of these lots, as well as old photographs, they thought they had a pretty good idea of what the grade on these properties was in the past. Head made a motion to approve the application due to topographic hardships. Throm seconded the motion, and it passed 5 -0. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:30pm. ssssssss.sssssssssssssssssssssssss*sssssssssssssssssssssssss•sssssssssss Respectfully submitted, Approved as submitted 7~b~d °I assn earson, Date Zoning Officer Ap roved with noted change(s) / ~ i c ead, I Date Co-Chairman 3