The City of Wildwood Board of Adjustment on July 17 approved a variance allowing a detached three-car garage to be built closer to the side property line at 2903 St. Albans Forest Court Circle.

The board granted the request to authorize an 18-foot side-yard setback in lieu of the 30 feet required by the city's nonurban residence district regulations, after finding the site characteristics constrained the placement of the building. The vote was unanimous.

The petitioner, represented by Alan Rorrig of Main Line Group Architecture, told the board the lots steep slope and a rock outcropping limited options and that an alternate design that met the 30-foot setback would produce an "odd building" with a triangular garage bay. "We don't approach variances lightly," Rorrig said, describing the 148-square-foot encroachment at a back corner as the minimum needed to achieve a practical, usable garage aligned with the existing doors.

Joe Vunich, director of planning, and planner Robin Keefe recommended approval, saying the garage site is largely invisible from the roadway and that the placement minimizes impacts. The department recommended one condition: a pre-construction inspection by the city arborist "to ensure that best practices are applied in preserving the trees that are in that project location," Vunich said.

Board members moved and seconded a motion to approve with the department's condition, then voted in roll call: Bob Morris approve; Anthony Reiner approve; David Bertolino approve; Michael Lee approve; Kevin Lux, acting chair approve. The chair announced, "So congratulations. You have an approved variance." The applicant may have six months to obtain required permits before the variance expires, as noted in the hearing procedure announced at the meeting.

Background: The subject lot is in St. Albans Forest Plat 1, Lot 8, a 3.1-acre parcel recorded in 1995 and served by a private roadway. The existing home, built in 2008, sits near the top of a steep site with about 76 feet of relief and contains multiple on-site improvements including an in-ground pool and parking court. The proposed garage totals 1,916 square feet and would encroach approximately 148 square feet into the side setback area. The department reported receiving one written comment in opposition raising potential HOA discrepancies, but the petitioner provided a letter from the HOA approving the project and a neighbor to the east emailed conditional approval so long as the construction did not exceed the requested encroachment.

Discussion v. Decision: Board members asked no substantive questions during the hearing. The departments recommendation and the petitioners presentation comprised the primary discussion. The boards formal action was to approve the variance with the arborist inspection condition.