Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Variance Garage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Zoning board approves garage setback variances for 1920 East Gadsden Street
Summary
The Pensacola Zoning Board of Adjustments unanimously approved variances to reduce rear and side yard setbacks so the applicant can build a 24-by-24-foot detached garage at 1920 East Gadsden Street; a nearby resident raised concerns about trees but withdrew her objection after board clarification that the variance covers only the garage.
The Pensacola Zoning Board of Adjustments on an undisclosed date unanimously approved variances to reduce setback requirements for a detached garage at 1920 East Gadsden Street.
The board approved the request to reduce the rear-yard setback from 10 feet to 3 feet 1 inch and to reduce the side-yard setback from 7.5 feet to 3 feet 1 inch so the applicant may build a 24-by-24-foot garage with a maximum height of 19 feet 11 inches. "That's where our garage is gonna go," applicant Chris Bouchard said while describing the design and roof pitch that would match the house.
The variances were sought to allow the garage to sit in the rear buildable area and to match the roof pitch of the existing house; Bouchard told the board the proposed roof pitch (7/12 and 10/12) would match the main house and provide attic space. The applicant provided letters from neighbors, including one from Jimmy Henson, and told the board he had neighbor approvals in the packet. The applicant stated the garage footprint would be within allowable buildable square footage and estimated the garage at roughly 576 square feet.
Cheryl Knowles, owner and resident of 2000 East Gadsden Street, spoke in opposition initially, saying she has lived at that address since 1987 and that trees along the western property line provide habitat and noise abatement. "I've lived in that home since 1987," Knowles said, expressing concern that a reduced setback could damage long-standing trees, including camellias she said were planted by a previous owner. The board and staff clarified that the variance under consideration applied only to the detached garage in the northwest corner of the property and would not change the house setback, which remains at 7.5 feet; after that clarification Knowles withdrew her objection.
Board members questioned the applicant about height, roof lines and drainage. Staff confirmed the parcel is zoned R-1 Triple A (R-1AAA) and that the packet contained neighbor correspondence. Mr. Price moved to approve the variances and Mr. Shelley seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The board chair noted that the Land Development Code requires five favorable votes for a variance and explained the seven statutory findings the board uses to evaluate variance requests, including that conditions are not self-created and that the variance be the minimum necessary to allow reasonable use.
The board recorded the outcome as approval; the applicant may proceed subject to any standard building-permit and inspection requirements. The board did not impose conditions beyond the variances granted, and no amendment to the request was recorded at the hearing.
No timeline for construction or permit issuance was provided at the meeting; staff will process any required permits per city procedures.
