Board clears Baptist Hospitals’ expansion variances at 3250 Fannin after applicant promises to address neighboring easement concerns

The Beaumont Board of Adjustment voted to grant three variances requested by Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas for the property at 3250 Fannin Street: reducing the front setback from 20 feet to 5 feet along Fannin, allowing an opaque fence in place of some required perimeter landscaping along the north property line, and eliminating the requirement for landscaped peninsulas within the north and northwest parking areas. The board approved the application after the hospital’s representatives and an adjacent property owner pledged to work together on an easement dispute.

Planning staff told the board the property is zoned GCMD and that the zoning ordinance requires a 20-foot front setback, perimeter landscaping along parking areas facing public right-of-ways, and permanently landscaped islands or peninsulas for parking areas with more than 20 spaces. Staff said removal of existing north-side buildings would create roughly 78 additional parking spaces in the north lot and would increase the northwest lot from 57 to 69 spaces. Staff also said 35 property-owner notices were mailed and none were returned in favor or opposition.

Architect Ronnie Jones described the setback request as consistent with earlier variances…