Board grants setback relief on undersized lot to allow replacement single-family home

The Variance Review Board on May 13 approved a variance for 2118 South Venus Street to reduce a corner-yard setback from 15 feet to 9 feet and a side-yard setback from 7 feet to 5 feet. The property is a platted 50-foot lot in an area zoned RS-75, which otherwise yields a minimal buildable pad under current dimensional rules.

Why it matters: The lot was platted at 50 feet in 1919 and is vested as a nonconforming lot in an RS-75 zoning district; applying RS-75 setbacks to a 50-foot lot would produce an impractically small building area. The owners said the original house flooded and needs replacement; the applicant said the variance will allow a modest, flood-resistant single-family home and will preserve a protective tree radius around a street tree.

Details: Staff reviews from transportation, stormwater, wastewater and natural resources were consistent with conditions. The applicant—s presentation showed the proposed footprint follows the existing house location, preserves a protective radius for a mature tree, and does not create visual obstructions in the right-of-way. The applicant noted there is additional separation between the property line and the street edge (about 14.8 feet) so the reduced corner setback does not put the structure directly on the roadway.

Board action and rationale: The board approved the variance after finding the lot—s small, vested configuration (platted in 1919) created a unique hardship not self-imposed by the current owners. The board noted the proposal met the five hardship criteria in Section 27-80 and transportation sign-off that no sight-obstruction would result.

Next steps: The applicant will proceed with building permits and flood-resistant construction measures; stormwater and other technical clearances remain part of the permit review process.