Boerne board denies three variances for proposed River Road office; concerns cited over drainage, setbacks and canopy

The Boerne Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals denied three variance requests for a proposed office at 902 River Road (Sunrise Addition, Lot 3) by votes of 5-0. The applicant, represented by Redwood Architects and developer Arman Meravza, sought exceptions to the River Road overlay and the City of Boerne Unified Development Code (UDC) to reduce required tree canopy and to shrink rear and side yard setbacks to accommodate a 1,060-square-foot office building on a small corner parcel.

Joanne Marie Andrade of the City of Boerne planning department presented the application and staff analysis. She said the parcel measures about 4,269 square feet and, after required right-of-way dedication, has roughly 3,743 square feet of buildable area. Under the River Road overlay, the project faces a 50% tree canopy requirement measured at maturity (1,873 square feet for this parcel). "The applicant is requesting…