The Osage Beach Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance request from Russell and Catherine Bonert to add a garage and extend a rear deck on their property, the board confirmed during its public meeting.

City planner Patterson described the request as “for a garage and then a deck extension, in the rear of the property,” and said the applicants scaled back earlier proposals to reduce safety concerns near the street. Patterson said the proposed garage would extend to within 9.16 feet of the front (street) property line, 4.5 feet of the side property line, and the deck extension would remain about 7.5 feet from the rear property line.

The planner said the lot is part of a subdivision created before the city adopted current zoning and subdivision standards and is “a little over a thousand square feet smaller than what our minimum lot size would be,” which limits options for additions and prompted the variance request. The packet included signatures from surrounding property owners “showing their favor for the request,” and staff reported no written objections.

Board rules cited at the start of the meeting noted the Board of Adjustment is created under the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) and that its composition is five full members and three alternates; a variance requires an 80% affirmative vote (four votes) to pass. Legal staff confirmed public-notice requirements had been met. The board discussed a water main that runs parallel to the road near the driveway; staff said relocation of any water or sewer service under a structure would be addressed through the building-permit process and recommended that applicants relocate lines so they are not under new structures if necessary.

A motion to accept the variance passed unanimously on roll call. The recorded votes in favor were Karen Baumann; Fred (as recorded) Katkot; Randy Gross; Gloria O'Keefe; and Jeremy Green. The board chair announced the motion passed.

Appeals of Board of Adjustment decisions were noted to be to the Camden County Circuit Court. Staff indicated that building-permit conditions and any required utility relocations will be handled during the permit review and inspection process.