On Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, the Board of Adjustment Panel C voted 5-0 to reimburse a $2,025 filing fee paid by homeowner Edwin Marlonanda Vargas related to case BOA25000048. The board convened at Dallas City Hall in a hybrid hearing chaired by Interim Presiding Officer Jared Slade.

The board heard testimony from Edwin Marlonanda Vargas, who said he is converting a two-car garage into a master bedroom to create a “safe and stable living space” for his mother and sister, who both have mental-health needs. Vargas told the board his household income is about $800 a month, he has been unemployed for about three months and had to pay $2,025 to keep his case moving after missing an earlier waiver hearing he said he was not notified about. “I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m asking for some relief under the city’s hardship provision so I can continue to follow the process and remain in compliance and care for my family without being financially overwhelmed,” Vargas said.

Vice member Mr. Sashington moved to grant reimbursement, saying the applicant “did express to us and give us some insight as to his current situation financially.” The motion stated the board found payment of the fee would result in financial hardship to Vargas. The motion passed on a voice vote with five ayes and no noes. Mary Williams, the board secretary, called the vote.

Board members asked Vargas follow-up questions about additional costs and delays tied to the application. Vargas said he had incurred about $800 in additional architectural and drawing modifications and that changes in the site plan—prompted by staff review—required further design work. Transportation staff (David Navaros) earlier told the panel staff had no objection to the underlying request but warned that the site plan would have to reflect driveway width at permitting and that other city standards remained applicable.

The board’s action directs staff to include the reimbursement in the public record; the board’s letters are mailed to applicants after hearings. The decision was recorded as a motion to reimburse filing fees associated with a request for a special exception to landscape regulations and a variance to off-street parking regulations in BOA25000048 and passed 5-0.

The board also noted that approval of a variance or special exception requires four affirmative votes of the five-member panel when precedent-setting relief is sought; this reimbursement was processed under the board’s hardship procedures.