City Council upholds denial of variance for large RV cover at 1512 Michigan Boulevard

The West Sacramento City Council on Oct. 1 voted 4-1 to deny an appeal from a property owner seeking a variance that would allow an existing, unpermitted RV cover at 1512 Michigan Boulevard to remain in reduced setbacks.

The denial upholds the Aug. 21 Planning Commission decision that found the applicant had not met the four required findings for a variance under the city's zoning rules and governing state guidance. Council member Norma Alcala cast the lone no vote; Council members Early, Orozco, Mayor Pro Tem Salpizio Hall and Mayor Guerrero voted to deny the appeal.

City planning staff and the Planning Commission said the structure — described in staff documents as about 47 by 15 feet (roughly 700 square feet) and up to 15 feet tall — was constructed within required front and side setbacks without an approved building permit. Planning Manager Tristan Osborne told the council the municipal code and state variance rules require four legal findings before a variance may be granted, and staff concluded those findings could not be met in this case.

Osborne summarized the timeline: the property owner visited the permit counter in November 2024 and was told setback and permit requirements; code enforcement issued a stop-work order in late January 2025 after a…