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Florence BZA approves variance for Stefano’s storage building at 2600 South Irving Street
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Florence voted to approve a variance that allows Stefano’s restaurant to place an accessory storage building behind its unit at 2600 South Irving Street closer to the street than the Unified Development Ordinance’s 150-foot street-side setback requires.
The Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Florence voted to approve a variance that allows Stefano’s restaurant to place an accessory storage building behind its unit at 2600 South Irving Street closer to the street than the Unified Development Ordinance’s 150-foot street-side setback requires.
City staff told the board that the shopping center unit occupied by Stefano’s is at the southern end of the building and that the UDO requires accessory storage structures larger than 120 square feet to be at least 150 feet from the street right-of-way. Staff said the proposed location would be about 86 feet from the side property line and that moving the building elsewhere on the lot would not serve the restaurant’s need for proximity and visibility to deter vandalism.
Elaine, city staff, summarized why staff recommended the variance: “The restrictions on accessory buildings are in place to prevent overcrowding of commercial properties and to improve the view from city streets, and that does not appear to be the situation here.” The staff presentation included site photos, an elevation drawing of the proposed structure and a map showing the proposed location behind the restaurant. Staff said the new building would be visible primarily from Freedom Boulevard and would sit within the shopping-center envelope.
Applicant Steven Toniolo, representing Stefano’s, said the restaurant has a verbal lease for a small back parcel and plans to remove an existing smaller storage building in poor condition and replace it with the proposed structure. Toniolo said the new building would be colored to match the rear of the shopping center so it blends with existing structures.
The chair moved to approve the variance based on findings that strict adherence to the 150-foot setback would create an unnecessary hardship for this property, that the spirit of the UDO would be observed, and that the variance would not be a substantial detriment to adjacent properties. The motion was seconded and the board recorded the motion as approved by voice vote (ayes); a roll-call tally was not specified in the transcript.
The record indicates the approved variance allows the storage structure in the proposed location but does not remove other permit or building-review requirements the applicant must satisfy before construction.
