[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6539813,"mediaKeyId","3563069-7a5390551fcd1715a284890c7e45384c","parentId",3563069,"title","Leawood BZA — votes at a glance (May 28, 2025): deck, fences, and exceptions approved","audioSeconds",2048,"startMs",1568000,"endMs",3616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3563069-7a5390551fcd1715a284890c7e45384c&start=1568&end=3616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3563069-7a5390551fcd1715a284890c7e45384c/thumbnail_1568000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539813/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Leawood-BZA-votes-at-a-glance-May-28-2025-deck-fences-and-exceptions-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539813-6545edb7ffa787277066a3700564a855/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181304&Signature=JNSf8on7elaHAok5dX4YyJQAOus8eodTl1IPYAh~ln1~Bb1qN8TmNKD8YYyVd3duGQkry6N326usZY~nTitU5TEPatOmTWaIB5WvMHL720Z-vX18pkWKAc435c2DFmAjcIBOVL1TF2A6Az6qYMy3u4jCteProBlaIyh-h08SHlXGcvUr0o68fJ5Uuxy0S1hb6LO9WgBoXuM7aD~-ezJif7ncq-976yqBtIGRxU8wIi-TvSTi~1DL1n4wrudrhyQNiKJMaKurqIzjOambtUyvKAXMdYlB1GCiTqH2BSB0NkYaBTKAaDH9WnVieL8iZEvZYt7~W1bZKt2L5wchRRvA8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Leawood, KS","date","2025-05-27T15:05:29Z","article","The Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals on May 28 approved a slate of variance and exception requests for decks and fences across the city, following the panel's decision to rehear and approve a separate pool-related variance at 8551 High Drive.

Notable approvals and short summaries:
- Case 15-2025 — 12000 Fairway Road: Variance to side setback to replace an existing legal nonconforming deck in the same footprint; approved. The applicant said the deck had substantial rot and is being replaced to the same footprint for safety.
- Case 16-2025 — 2340 West 103rd Street: Fence-height exception to replace mixed wrought iron/chain-link with a uniform wooden fence, citing safety for small children and dogs adjacent to a busy arterial; approved.
- Case 17-2025 — 12705 Alhambra Street: Exception for placement of a fence on a through lot; approved. Applicant represented owner who requested added backyard enclosure for small children.
- Case 18-2025 — 13153 El Monte Drive: Variance to place a fence in the side setback on a corner lot; approved. Applicant cited neighborhood consistency and dogsafety; board noted letters of support from the HOA.
- Case 19-2025 — 4248 West 204th Terrace: Fence-height exception to replace an existing 6-foot nonconforming fence; approved. Applicant said existing fence was in dire need of repair.
- Case 20-2025 — 9705 Overbrook Road: Fence-height exception to install a 6-foot fence at the rear property line adjacent to a native area, intended to keep sport-court balls from passing into brush; approved. Applicant said they would maintain the space between fences.
- Case 21-2025 — 8328 Sagamore Road: Fence-height exception to replace a damaged chain-link fence with a 6-foot wood privacy fence to block an adjacent dog's access and match neighboring privacy fences; approved. Speakers asked that property lines be confirmed by the fencing contractor and that permits/inspections be followed.
- Case 22-2025 — 13212 Granada Drive: Exception for placement of a 4-foot steel fence 10 feet from the rear property line to align with neighbors and an HOA-approved landscape easement; approved.

Most applications were approved unanimously or with affirming votes after the board considered the applicable LDO criteria. Applicants and staff were told they will receive written notice and that permits and inspections remain required; staff emphasized compliance with any applicable easement or stormwater rules where relevant.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Zoning Appeals [BZA] - May 28 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Zoning Appeals approved multiple variance and exception requests, including replacement of a nonconforming deck and several fence exceptions, and granted an exception/variance for fences on through and corner lots.","taxTitle","Leawood, Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",55742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6539818,"Leawood BZA rescinds prior denial, approves pool-grade variance at 8551 High Drive",853,113000,966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3563069-7a5390551fcd1715a284890c7e45384c&start=113&end=966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3563069-7a5390551fcd1715a284890c7e45384c/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6539818/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Leawood-BZA-rescinds-prior-denial-approves-pool-grade-variance-at-8551-High-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539818-0d5ae81b3b3a2b03e46c724c2090c152/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181304&Signature=h1b9ualD12xLAFh9CenaSK39zTqzzjExOfGzVWhlS6dL95y-usY2Oe~TFr-gvtLjmKZKBfV10jToljVMxEMZEJ1PN6DhZCD-mFjhU9yb2dJWbyveQs21pGQPqEZp4FyW~zPNNuz4otaHrdO-imgwsAKkBhldBY0-8lD-z-ZcYM61jICE5L84z35id1ODJw8yQSvLcS15O6wd~w9Z69WptkirCjArfzPFhoGh9eiNHnuGW7aKjjmls~-ZsP4OsfbQMke41Q60ksI4dRn74o7VkRLUoXoRPLaUR2BwgAQbn5bifIviDaLrF~AcOho-6W49C34k06nOrVMQt7YSNjfpMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals on May 28 voted to rescind a March denial and then approved a variance allowing a retaining wall and grade change to construct a backyard pool at 8551 High Drive.

The board rescinded its earlier denial after city staff reported new information showing that the city-stamped, approved building plans included pool infrastructure and foundation elements that had been installed. After reopening the case, the board voted that the application met all five variance criteria and approved a variance that permits a 4.2-foot maximum retaining wall associated with the proposed pool, a 3.2-foot variance from the tear-down/rebuild grade-change limit.

Travis, a city plans examiner, told the board staff had not been aware at the March hearing that the approved building plans depicted pool infrastructure. \"The plans that got approved did show some of the infrastructure for the pool,\" Travis said. He said it is not unusual for stormwater review to require showing all impervious elements on plans, but that the department normally marks unapproved pools with an X and separates pool permits from house permits. \"We didn't do that in this case,\" he said, which staff now views as material new information that could affect the hardship analysis.

Applicants Brad Lawing and Chelsea Lawing said the pool is part of a tear-down/rebuild project and described construction sequencing and neighborhood impacts as part of the hardship claim. Brad Lawing said he solicited neighbor support and told the board he had signatures from \"8 of, I think, 15 adjoining neighbors\" acknowledging that a single-construction schedule would reduce prolonged disturbance for neighbors.

Board members discussed the hardship factor at length. One member said the issue was primarily \"a matter of timing,\" noting that if the work had not been part of a teardown/rebuild it would not have required a variance. Another member said it would be unfair to deny hardship given that the city had approved plans showing the foundation and the contractor had relied on those plans while constructing some infrastructure.

The board first voted to rescind its prior denial (majority vote required) and then reopened the case to consider all five variance criteria anew. Members voted in the affirmative on uniqueness of property, rights of adjacent property owners, hardship, public safety and general welfare, and the spirit and intent of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO). Following those affirmative votes, the board moved to approve the variance request. The chairman said applicants will be notified in writing.

Staff emphasized that, irrespective of the variance, any grade changes and related work must meet the city's stormwater requirements before final approvals or permits will be granted.

Clarifying details from the hearing: the approved building plans shown to the board were city-stamped and included pool-elevation and foundation details; the variance approved allows a retaining wall up to 4.2 feet, a variance of 3.2 feet from the LDO limit for tear-down/rebuild grading; the property address is 8551 High Drive; the prior denial occurred at the March 2025 BZA hearing.","After staff discovered city-stamped plans showing pool foundation work, the Board of Zoning Appeals rescinded a March denial and approved a variance allowing a 3.2-foot grade change for a pool at 8551 High Drive.","actionData","errors"]

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Leawood BZA — votes at a glance (May 28, 2025): deck, fences, and exceptions approved

Leawood BZA rescinds prior denial, approves pool-grade variance at 8551 High Drive