ZBA grants multiple variances for 1501 West Brown Street subdivision plan

The Wylie Zone Board of Adjustments on May 19 granted a package of variances to Meehan Investments LLC for a proposed single-family subdivision at 1501 West Brown Street (ZBA 2025-10). The board voted unanimously, 4-0.

Staff presented the preliminary plat and explained three primary variance requests: (1) a reduction of the required 30-foot landscape buffer adjacent to a mapped flood plain; (2) a reduction of the required 40-foot landscape buffer along Brown Street, which is designated a thoroughfare; and (3) relief from double-frontage lot depth and reduced rear-setback requirements where lots face two streets. Kevin (planning staff) said the developer proposes an HOA open-space lot in lieu of the trail the ordinance would otherwise require adjacent to the flood plain and that screening (wrought-iron fence) would still be required along Brown Street even if the buffer variance were granted.

Jason (planning/city commentary) told the board that city council had previously denied a townhouse request for the site and that the property is zoned “Single Family 10/24” (10,000-square-foot lots, 2,400-square-foot minimum homes). He said the ordinances were originally written for much larger subdivisions and that Brown Street is unlikely to be widened to the scale implied by the buffer requirement. Hushan Jovani, the project engineer, told the board the site is about 5.5 acres with roughly 1 acre in the mapped flood plain and that, “with all these restrictions…we cannot have more than 8 lots if we comply with all the requirements,” but the developer needs 12 lots to make the project economically feasible. He said the variances would allow 12 lots on the irregularly shaped parcel.

Two members of the public spoke in support. Jackie Tobar, a local real-estate and title-company owner, told the board she had previously supported a townhouse proposal for the same site and said the buffer requirements along nearby Brown and Westgate differ by zoning change; she urged allowing development on a parcel that has sat vacant. Staff mailed 16 notices and reported no responses in favor or opposition.

Board members discussed that, even if variances were approved, homes would still be required to meet minimum lot size and dwelling-unit size standards (10,000-square-foot lots; 2,400-square-foot homes) and that the proposed residential street would be a fully built 50-foot right-of-way. After a motion and second, the board approved the variances unanimously, 4-0.

Votes at a glance: ZBA approved variances at 1501 West Brown Street (ZBA-2025-10) reducing the 30-foot floodplain buffer, the 40-foot Brown Street buffer, and providing relief from double-frontage depth and rear-setback requirements to permit a 12-lot single-family layout; motion carried unanimously, 4-0.