Homewood BZA grants main‑house setback variance at 2919 Parkridge Drive; denies deck variance

The Board of Zoning Adjustment on April 3 considered two variance requests from Timothy Courtman for 2919 Parkridge Drive. The board approved the primary‑structure variance (case SV250402 part A) to reduce the side setback to allow an addition to the existing home and denied the separate variance for an open deck (part B).

Courtman told the board the lot is irregular and "pie‑shaped," with converging lines in the rear that create the hardship. He said redrawing the addition to avoid a variance would have caused cascading interior changes — moving the kitchen, laundry and doors — and that removing the alley easement between homes was not a practical option because his adjacent neighbor Rhonda Montgomery (an elderly long‑term resident) did not want that process.

Board members reviewed photos and plans; the applicant explained the existing deck sits on a brick foundation and that the plan would remove the brick and rebuild the deck if the variance were granted. The board split on the two requests: part A (primary structure) passed on a 4–1 vote with Mr. Johnson recorded as the lone no; part B (open deck) failed 3–2.

Votes at a glance: SV250402‑A (reduce side setback to 7 ft 9 in; reduction ~2.1 ft) approved 4–1 (yes: Miss Childs; Mr. Nieves; Miss Hand; Mr. Perkle; no: Mr. Johnson). SV250402‑B (left side from 5 ft to 2 ft; reduction 3 ft for open deck) denied (yes: Mr. Nieves; Miss Childs; no: Miss Hand; Mr. Johnson; Mr. Perkle). The chair instructed the applicants to coordinate with planner Emily Harris Miller to proceed with any permitted work.

During deliberations board members noted past cases are not dispositive — each application must be evaluated on its own facts under Article 11, Section B of the zoning ordinance. The applicant was advised that if he wished to pursue changes to the deck, reworking the deck footprint to avoid the setback requirement was an option.