Board approves parking and setback variances at 34319 West 20 First Avenue to protect live oak

The City of Covington Board of Adjustments granted variances for a development at 34319 West 20 First Avenue on Aug. 18, approving a reduction in required parking and an encroachment into the west-side parking setback to preserve an on-site live oak.

Ricky Galloway of High Tide Consultants told the board the property is 75 feet wide and about 150 feet deep and contains a 48-inch live oak at the northeast corner. He said city parking and drive-aisle standards make it difficult to fit the required parking without encroaching into side setbacks. Galloway described the request as two variances: elimination of the 10-foot side parking setback along the west side of the property and a reduction in required parking driven by the tree and lot geometry.

Commissioners discussed use and scale. A commissioner asked whether the tenant would be a medical office; Galloway replied it would be a clinic with one doctor and "probably 3 or 4 employees." Galloway said the building under consideration is about 2,700 square feet. On the property’s tree, Galloway said building full parking would place spaces within about 1½ feet of the oak trunk; removing one parking space and shifting the lot west would increase the distance to the tree by roughly 8 feet.

A board member urged additional reduction to preserve the tree; commissioners and the applicant agreed to reduce the total parking to 12 spaces and to allow encroachment into the west-side parking setback. Galloway said parking areas would be gravel rather than poured concrete and that the planting/drip line would be treated with care.

The board approved the motion by roll call: Miss Butler, Mr. Gilley, Miss Williams, Mr. Romage and Mr. Huvall voted yes. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). No conditions or mitigation measures beyond the agreed reduction to 12 spaces and gravel parking were recorded in the Aug. 18 discussion.