El Paso Zoning Board approves five setback exceptions, postpones one carport case

At a meeting of the El Paso City Zoning Board of Adjustment, board members approved five special-exception requests to legalize existing structures that encroach into required setbacks and postponed one request involving a proposed carport relocation after the motion failed to reach the seven affirmative votes the board requires for approval.

Staff presented six agenda items involving requests to legalize or approve additions, porches and carports that encroach into front, side or rear yard setbacks. Blanca Perez of Planning and Inspections introduced the first case and recommended approval, saying the proposal would “result in an encroachment of approximately 481 square feet” for a rear-yard addition and that staff “recommends approval of both exception requests.” Similar staff presentations for the other items described the location, the recorded encroachment area, notice to nearby property owners and staff conditions where applicable.

The board approved items 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Approvals were made by motion and voice vote; staff records show notices for each property were mailed to owners within 300 feet. For each approved item staff recommended conditions in some cases: item 2 (the…