Board approves 4-foot side-yard setback for church accessory building at 2530 North 11th Street

The Beaumont Board of Adjustment on a 5-0 vote granted a variance to reduce the minimum south side-yard setback from 5 feet to 4 feet at 2530 North 11th Street to allow a detached accessory building to line up with the existing church structure.

The variance was requested by Eduardo Rodriguez for an addition behind the existing building. Planning staff said 16 property-owner notices were sent and the office received no written support or opposition. Staff displayed site plans showing the proposed 16-by-40 accessory building and noted the existing structure is already at a 4-foot setback.

Ruth Sanchez, an assistant at the church who spoke for the applicant, said, “our property is 2530 North Eleventh Street, ZIP code 77703. And our goal is, like, she claimed, we are wanting to have that alignment throughout the entire building since our property is pretty tight on parking, and, we are outgrowing, our church membership.” Sanchez told the board the new slab and building are intended for storage and to protect equipment and musical instruments and that the accessory building will be detached from the church.

After brief questions from board members about orientation, distance from the existing church and whether the new slab would be covered, Chairman Timaeus made the motion to approve the variance and the board voted unanimously in favor. The board chair announced, “So 5 to nothing. You've won it. You got a 10 day waiting period. Talk to the staff afterward and, and get that cleared up.”

The board treated this as a single formal action (a variance) with no additional conditions recorded in the hearing transcript beyond the standard waiting period. The transcript shows no written objections or recorded amendments to the motion.

The board’s decision applies only to the setback relief requested for the south property line; any future changes to the main building or other site work would require separate approval if they affect setback or other zoning rules.

Planning staff advised the applicant to follow up with staff to complete administrative steps during the 10-day waiting period.

No formal legal authority beyond the city’s zoning ordinance (setback requirements) was cited in the transcript; the board’s action implements relief from that local zoning requirement.

Speakers and staff at the hearing included planning staff who presented the application, the church’s representative Ruth Sanchez, and board members who voted on the motion. The applicant or other representatives were present but not separately quoted in the record.