Council approves variance shifting front yards inward for Blakely Manor subdivision to preserve rear buffers

City Council voted to grant a primary variance allowing the developer of Blakely Manor to reduce front-yard setbacks from 60 feet to 50 feet for 36 of the subdivisions lots.

Community Development staff and the Design Review Board recommended approval with three conditions: the variance must match the submitted site plan, rear-yard setbacks must increase accordingly, and pool and pool-equipment setbacks must be increased from 10 feet to 20 feet from rear property lines.

Interim Community Development Director Diana Wheeler and the applicant explained the change is a response to topography: the site drops about 93 feet in elevation across the property, and shifting building pads closer to the interior streets reduces the need for extensive grading and long retaining walls. "We're not adding any buildable area," Wheeler said. The applicant, Scott Reese of Low Reese & Associates representing the Chatham family, said the change would preserve more green space for neighbors and reduce construction costs.

Council voted to approve the variance at the meeting's consent/new-business phase; the motion passed unanimously. The approval included the staff-recommended conditions tying the variance to the submitted site plan and the increased rear and pool setbacks.

Council discussion emphasized that the variance does not increase density or buildable area and that the change would likely benefit adjacent property owners by increasing rear-yard separation. Staff noted the variance came before council because more than 10% of lots in the subdivision were included in the request, which triggers council review instead of review by the Board of Zoning Appeals.