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Council upholds water-resources board appeal, allows five-foot dock setback variance on Jefferson
Summary
A Jefferson homeowner’s appeal for a five-foot variance from a 10-foot property-line setback for a dock hoist was approved unanimously after council determined the change would have minimal impact on neighbors and would avoid substantial hardship.
The St. Clair Shores City Council on Oct. 6 approved an appeal of a water-resources-board action, granting a five-foot variance to allow a dock hoist to remain closer to the property line than the current 10-foot ordinance requires.
Homeowner William Hanna asked the council to allow the hoist to remain five feet from the northern property line, saying moving the structure would be impractical and impose “tremendous financial hardship.” Hanna said the requested change would not negatively affect neighboring properties, public safety, or environmental safety.
Councilmembers discussed the rationale for the 10-foot standard, with Councilmember Karen noting the extra setback was intended to preserve space in case a neighboring property installed its own dock or hoist. Karen said the property at issue was functionally unique and that the neighboring lot’s setback made the chance of conflict low.
Councilmember Vitale noted that a neighbor to the south had submitted a letter and told the council he favored the variance. "You've got the neighboring property saying, we like it better this way," Vitale said.
Councilmember Karen moved to approve the appeal; the motion was supported on the floor and carried with no recorded opposition. The council did not attach further conditions beyond the variance request.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve the appeal for a five-foot variance from the current 10-foot setback for the dock/hoist, moved by Councilmember Karen and supported by Councilmember Burgess; approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
