Board grants variance to reduce front-yard setbacks for two units on Palmer Hills Court; approval contingent on replat and council sign-off

The Bettendorf Board of Adjustment on Aug. 14 approved a variance for two attached single-family units at 3236 Palmer Hills Court that reduces the required front-yard setbacks from 25 feet to 11 feet along AAA Court and to 13 feet along Palmer Hills Court.

Planning staff reviewed case 25-030-VAR and described the parcel as an unusually shaped, diamond-like lot flanked by two cul-de-sacs. Staff cited eligibility under the recently revised statute 414.12 governing variances and told the board that practical difficulties unique to the property — including its odd shape and long-standing configuration — support the request. Staff said the encroaching areas are each approximately 295 square feet and noted prior precedent with three variance cases granted in comparable circumstances. "Staff in reviewing the proposal would recommend that the variance be granted for both units and that approval be contingent upon the replatting of the ground to be known as final plat of AAA Office Park Fifth Edition and that city council must approve said plat and it must be recorded," the staff report said.

An applicant representative (Mike Janacek, listed in the filing) submitted the application. A board member moved to approve, another seconded, and the board voted unanimously. The motion and staff recommendations require that the final plat be approved by city council and recorded before any building permits are issued.

The board recorded the variance approval but did not itself perform the final plat or city-council-level approvals, which staff said are prerequisites to construction permits.