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Board grants variance at 117 Main Street to avoid losing downtown parking for HVAC screening
Summary
The Decatur Zoning Board of Adjustments granted a variance to CG Fernahue Properties at 117 Main Street to waive the city's mechanical-equipment screening requirement after a recent renovation installed new HVAC units. The owner said required screening would eliminate at least one parking space and interfere with a gas meter.
The Decatur Zoning Board of Adjustments voted to grant a variance to CG Fernahue Properties for mechanical-equipment screening at 117 Main Street, allowing recently installed HVAC units to remain without the screening required by city code.
Lisa Hannon, the city's planning director, entered the staff report into the record and described the situation: remodeling work installed new mechanical equipment and the city code requires such equipment to be screened from view. Hannon said staff found no special site conditions and identified a potential hardship: enforcing the screening could eliminate one parking space. "There are alternative screening materials available," she told the board, and noted the variance authority under the Texas Local Government Code.
Property owner Christopher Fernahue spoke during the public hearing and said the renovation triggered the requirement. He told the board that the new units, added two months earlier, and an existing older unit occupy a narrow platform that is also adjacent to a gas meter. "So I'm just asking to for the variance to not have to put it up to not lose the parking," Fernahue said, describing concerns that constructing a screening enclosure would push into a parking stall and might require relocating the gas meter.
Board members discussed possible compromises such as partial screening visible from Main Street only, chain-link screening (which staff said would allow airflow but be unsightly), and whether complying would trigger fire-code or access issues at a doorway next to the units. Staff said 24 property owners were notified of the request and that no responses were received.
A motion to approve the variance was made by Mr. Cross, seconded by Mr. Mohammed, and carried with all members voting in favor.
The variance approval applies to the existing mechanical equipment installed during the recent renovation. Staff noted that older units on the building have been in place for decades and that the screening requirement was triggered by the recent renovation activity.
