Board approves setback variance on Twelfth Street for three‑lot subdivision at 429 Lincoln Boulevard

The Mobile Board of Adjustment approved a variance to reduce the side‑street setback along Twelfth Street from 25 feet to 10 feet for a proposed three‑lot subdivision at 429 Lincoln Boulevard.

Engineer Zeke Hudson of Roe Engineering told the board the original subdivision had been platted with 25‑foot widths and that the current proposal combines and reconfigures those lots into three larger parcels. "We're trying to cut this down to a 3 lot subdivision... the lots are only 37 and a half feet," Hudson said, and requested a 10‑foot setback on Twelfth Street to permit buildable areas.

Staff and board members discussed existing development patterns on surrounding blocks: several older houses and apartment buildings sit close to Twelfth Street, and the property owner intends to keep the existing dwelling on one of the lots. The applicant confirmed the request advertised to the public applied to the Twelfth Street setback only; the applicant said they could live with the 25‑foot setback along Lincoln Boulevard and preferred to reduce Twelfth Street only.

A board member moved to approve the advertised variance reducing the Twelfth Street setback to 10 feet; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. "Motion carries," the chair announced.

Why it matters: The variance will allow creation of three buildable lots from a historic plat of narrow lots and aligns the new lots with existing tight setbacks on the block. The applicant will need to return if they later seek a variance relating to Lincoln Boulevard frontage.