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Riverside board approves height variance for religious building on Harshman Road
Summary
The Riverside Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a variance allowing domes up to 41 feet on a religious institution at 2320 Harshman Road, exceeding the R-1 district 35-foot height limit; staff recommended approval citing the large lot and surrounding nonresidential structures.
The Riverside Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a variance allowing an increase in building height for a religious institution at 2320 Harshman Road, the board said during a meeting that opened at 6 p.m.
The variance sought an exception to the Unified Development Ordinance height limit for the R-1 district so the applicant could add three domes; the tallest dome was described to the board as topping out at about 41 feet, above the 35-foot maximum. City staff recommended approval, and the board approved the variance by a 3-2 roll call vote.
City planner Naya Holt told the board the property is in the R-1 zoning district and that the addition includes three domes, “the tallest of which will bring this new…structure to 48 feet tall and 4 inches” as originally submitted to staff. At the hearing the project’s architect, Adam Eaton, corrected that figure and told the board the domes “will top out at 41 feet, not 48.” Holt said the property is more than 11 acres and is surrounded by other nonresidential and multi‑story buildings, and she recommended approval, saying the addition would have “minimal impact on the surrounding areas.”
During public comment the architect said the domes would be smaller than originally submitted and argued the nearest neighboring house is about 120 feet away and others are farther, saying the change ‘‘would not affect anyone’s view’’ and noting larger buildings exist across the street.
A board member moved to approve the variance per staff recommendation; the motion passed on roll call: Board members Walling, Smith and Kron voted yes; Gosnell and Teaford voted no. The board recorded the outcome as approved.
The board’s action applies only to the zoning variance for height. City staff told the board that the applicant had previously obtained a county building permit that allowed construction to proceed without the domes and that a Riverside zoning permit for the domes will be issued only if the variance is approved.
The board closed the public portion of the item after hearing from the applicant’s architect and took no further conditions beyond the standard zoning review and permit process.
Minutes and staff materials list the variance as VZA case number 2500022320.
