Council approves variance for accessory building at 2033 Hillside Road

The Seven Hills City Council voted June 24 to approve a variance request allowing a 240-square-foot accessory building at 2033 Hillside Road.

Councilmember Kelly presented the zoning board of appeals’ report: “The following variance request was before the zoning board of appeals held on 06/11/2025. The resident applicant is Tom Schnitzky, residing at 2033 Hillside Road. This is for a 40 foot variance to ordinance number 919.03 h 2, residential accessory use standard, accessory use setback standards to allow the placement of a 240 square foot accessory building, 50 feet from both the east and west side yard lot lines as depicted in the submitted drawings.” Kelly said the zoning board had five members present and voted 5–0 in favor of the request.

According to the board’s report on the record, the applicant’s stated practical difficulty is flooding; the proposed site was moved from an initial application position because trees constrained placement and the new site is the driest part of the yard. The presenter said the existing shed sat in the lowest part of the yard in a swale and that the new location would avoid those flooding problems.

Councilmember Kelly moved to approve the variance; a second was received and the roll-call vote recorded ‘‘yes’’ for voting members, after which the council president announced, “Variance is approved.” No conditions or amendments to the variance were stated on the record.

The council did not provide engineering details during the meeting; the presenter said she did not have the engineer’s comments but recalled the engineer had reported “no issues as far as to the location.” The zoning board’s unanimous recommendation and the applicant’s stated flood-related hardship were the primary bases documented in the meeting transcript for the council’s approval.