Sun City West homeowner granted 10‑foot rear setback for attached workshop

The Board of Adjustment approved a variance for a Sun City West lot that lets the homeowner locate a workshop with a reduced rear setback so the structure can be attached to the primary residence to satisfy a homeowners association rule.

The variance responds to a design constraint created by the Sun City West HOA requirement that accessory structures be attached to the primary residence. Joel, the presenting planner, told the board county zoning rules do not enforce HOA or architectural design standards, and staff found no particular physical condition preventing full compliance with county setbacks. The applicant, Greg Olenich, told the board his requested 10‑foot reduction (from 25 to 15 feet) affects only a corner of the building and said that moving the proposed workshop farther south would leave insufficient clearance for a landing at a door.

Joel explained that, if the structure were detached, county setbacks would be met; the applicant’s limitation stems from the HOA requirement to attach the building. The board discussed site dimensions and neighbor impacts; no speakers appeared in opposition. Member Loper moved to approve the request, and the board recorded a 3–0 vote to approve the variance subject to the staff stipulations in the report.

The decision allows the applicant to build a workshop connected to the residence while memorializing the reduced rear setback in the record. Staff reiterated the county’s limitation — county zoning does not enforce private HOA rules — but the variance gives the owner a path to build while complying with HOA attachment requirements.