BZA approves expanded driveway and second access at 510 Kessler Boulevard West Drive with landscape commitments

The Metropolitan BZA granted a variance for 510 Kessler Boulevard West Drive to permit a wider front-yard parking area (up to 60 feet in the front yard at its widest point) and a second driveway connection along the frontage. Petitioner representatives said the design addressed safety and maneuverability concerns caused by current delivery and large-vehicle movements at a house located on a curve of Kessler Boulevard.

Attorney Andy Wirt, representing homeowner Diana Steinhoff, said the enlarged pavement area and a second cut were intended to improve safety by giving delivery and larger vehicles a safer place to enter, turn and exit the property without having to back out onto a blind curve. Wirt said the design includes landscape treatments to preserve neighborhood aesthetics; the petitioner agreed to install an evergreen landscape buffer along the west property line and additional plantings as discussed with adjacent neighbors.

Neighbors including Chad Walker spoke in opposition initially, citing concern about aesthetics, lighting, parking uses of a large paved area and traffic-safety impacts; Walker said neighbors wanted commitments on landscape buffering, limits on outdoor parking, and controls on lighting that faces neighbors. The petitioner agreed to provide written commitments following the hearing. Staff had recommended denial, noting the request would remove a large portion of front yard open space and that the site already had a driveway wider than permitted in one place; staff also emphasized the land use plan’s preference to preserve open space in that area.

After a discussion of design and mitigation commitments, the board voted to grant the variance with the conditions agreed at the hearing: landscaping subject to administrative approval, commitments limiting outdoor parking, and lighting limited to security needs and directed away from neighboring properties. The vote recorded David Duncan, Andrew Catona, Peter Nelson and Jennifer Witt as yes and Tom Barnes as no.

Why it matters: The approval balances homeowner safety and maneuverability for large delivery vehicles with neighborhood concerns about front-yard open space and aesthetics by requiring landscape buffering and lighting limits as permit conditions. Staff will record the petitioner’s written commitments and review final plans for compliance with the agreed landscape and lighting conditions before permits issue.

Next steps: Petitioner to file the agreed commitments in writing to be attached to the case file; staff will verify compliance with those commitments as part of permit review.