Gautier council approves three planning requests including waterfront setback variance and fence height variance

The Gautier City Council on June 20 approved three planning and zoning requests, including a 64-foot variance to front-yard setback rules for an accessory structure at 1590 Collin J. McCray Drive, a special exception to allow a proposed warehouse in a town-center district along Old Spanish Trail, and a two-foot variance to permit a six-foot front-yard fence at 1424 Westland Street.

The three approvals follow recommendations from the city planning commission and staff. Scott Anderson, the city’s planning director, told the council the front-yard variance stems from an unusual lot configuration: the primary structure faces the public street while an adjoining, contiguous parcel fronts the water, placing a proposed 34-by-38 storage building in front of the house’s building line. Anderson said the application fee of $1.75 was paid and public-notice requirements were met. The planning commission recommended approval based on the property’s unique characteristics.

The approvals matter because they change how property owners may use specific parcels and because several items involved areas near the waterfront and the town center that the city’s comprehensive plan designates for particular uses. The council voted on each item after hearing staff summaries and, in one case, brief public comment.

For the Old Spanish Trail request, Anderson said the applicant, doing business as Air Masters Mechanical, filed the application and paid the $2.50 filing fee. The parcel is about 7.74 acres and has water and sewer service; surrounding zoning includes town center and community commercial, with industrial to the southeast. The planning commission recommended approval with the stipulation that a decorative fence, landscaping and a decorative front façade be added; Anderson noted some of those are already ordinance requirements. The council approved the special exception by motion.

The fence-height variance at 1424 Westland Street drew a public comment. Mark Olson of 2504 Lower Keimer Drive asked the council to require the owners to reduce the six-foot fence to the front plane of the house to better conform with the neighborhood. The property owner, John Locke, and other residents spoke in support of the variance. Anderson said the applicant sought the taller fence to lessen road noise and headlights on the corner lot; the planning commission recommended approval because of neighborhood characteristics and house location. Council members asked staff to look into the contractor’s permitting history after a council member noted similar issues elsewhere in the city.

Motions to approve were made and seconded for each item and the mayor announced “motion carries” after each vote. Anderson said the planning commission minutes and full application packets were in the council packet for members’ review.

Council members and staff repeatedly noted that the city may approve, modify or deny such requests and that the UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) criteria and the planning commission’s findings were included in meeting materials. The council did not record roll-call vote tallies in the public comments portion of the meeting summary; the mayor announced each motion carried.