Builder James Casey Requests Setback Exception at Galveston Public Hearing

The Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustments convened on September 3, 2025, to address a public hearing regarding zoning adjustments for a property development. The meeting began with the chairman inviting the applicant, builder James Casey, to present his case for a zoning exception.

Casey explained that he had relied on an engineer to prepare the original site plan for a residential project on a double lot. Initially, the plan included a four-foot wrap-around deck that inadvertently encroached into an aerial easement. To rectify this, Casey modified the design by removing the deck and adjusting the house's position. However, despite these changes, a corner of the house still encroached on the setback requirements.

During his presentation, Casey expressed his concern for the homeowner, a three-time cancer survivor, who intended to leave the property to his children. He requested the board to consider granting an exception based on a precedent set by a nearby property at 4235 Beachfront, which had been accepted with a ten-foot setback.

The discussion highlighted the complexities of zoning regulations and the challenges builders face when navigating these rules. Casey acknowledged that the situation stemmed from reliance on the engineer's work and expressed a willingness to cover any costs necessary to bring the project into compliance if the exception was not granted.

The board members engaged with Casey, questioning the methods used to determine the setbacks of the examples he presented. Casey clarified that he had used survey stakes from a neighboring property to measure the distances, although he did not have a new survey conducted for his own property.

The meeting concluded with the board considering Casey's request for an exception, weighing the implications of the decision on both the builder and the homeowner. Further discussions and a decision on the matter are expected in subsequent meetings.