Planning Commission recommends denial of variance for pool at 6580 Astor Trail

The City of Victoria Planning Commission voted on March 4 to recommend denial of a variance request that would allow a private pool and patio to encroach into the 100-foot shoreland setback at 6580 Astor Trail.

The recommendation to deny the variance follows a public hearing and a staff presentation that described new information regarding stormwater drainage, lot topography and retaining-wall needs. “A pool of any size on the north side of the home is not feasible due to the… stormwater mitigation issue,” applicant John Stockman told the commission, summarizing a written report from his pool contractor.

The variance application seeks to move the 100-foot shoreland setback inward so the pool’s water edge would be about 74–76 feet from the ordinary high-water mark (staff reported the proposed encroachment as roughly 24–28 feet into the setback depending on whether coping is counted). City staff said the lot is irregular…