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Board approves variances for accessible single‑story home at 11 St. Alfred Road
Summary
The Board of Adjustment granted two variances allowing a new one‑story, accessible home at 11 St. Alfred Road to encroach up to 7.83 feet on the south side and 7.05 feet in the rear. The board voted 4-0 on each motion; neighbors submitted letters of support and the plan will move to design review.
The Olivette Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Feb. 13 to grant two area variances permitting a new single‑story home at 11 St. Alfred Road to encroach into required side‑ and rear‑yard setbacks.
The board approved a side‑yard setback variance of up to 7.83 feet along the south property line (reducing the required 24.9‑foot setback to roughly 17.06 feet in the proposed plan) and a rear‑yard setback variance of up to 7.05 feet along the west property line (reducing the required 20‑foot rear yard to about 12.95 feet). Each motion passed on a 4-0 roll call.
Applicants Jennifer Burling and Jeff Echoltz and architect Lauren Stretman explained the request was driven by lot geometry and the owners’ intent to provide a fully accessible, one‑story residence for their adult daughter who uses a wheelchair. Burling told the board she had worked with multiple architects over two years and that new construction was the only practical way to meet accessibility needs without prohibitive costs. She also said adjacent neighbors on Cherry Lane had provided written support; those letters were included in the packet.
City staff described the lot as part of Heather Hill First Addition (Lot 31), legally nonconforming in depth and unusually wedge‑shaped. Staff noted that because frontage is calculated along the full plat front, lots with long, unusable frontage can yield higher calculated side setbacks under Chapter 400; removing the unusable portion of frontage would lower the calculated setback to about 17.5 feet according to the applicants’ architect.
Architect Lauren Stretman told the board the proposal minimizes intrusion into setbacks compared with the existing dwelling and that the attached oversized garage is necessary to provide covered access for a wheelchair‑accessible van. Staff entered exhibits into the record including building permit applications, denied permits dated Jan. 7, 2025, site improvement plans (Lawrence Stutman Architects, 01/16/2025) and building plans (THD Design Group, 01/16/2025). The board noted that a detached garage could reduce the house’s setback needs but would not meet the applicants’ covered‑access requirement.
Both variance motions passed by roll call: Board member Weber — yes; Board member Cicero — yes; Board member Dragill/Jurgel — yes; Chairman Gerstein — yes. Staff said the applicants must next complete Planning and Community Design Commission review for site plan, design and stormwater management, with outside consultant review anticipated before final permits.
