Bryan Planning & Zoning Commission denies variance for Cottonwood Street replat, citing parking and safety concerns

The Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny a request to reduce the minimum lot width for a proposed replat on Cottonwood Street, saying the change would worsen parking and safety conditions in the neighborhood.

Benjamin Johnson, a staff planner with the City of Bryan, told commissioners the subject acreage totals about 1.14 acres within a larger 1.72-acre tract proposed to be replat into six residential lots. The applicants requested a five-foot variance from the 50-foot minimum lot width required in Residential District RD-5 to allow four interior lots with a 45-foot lot width each. Johnson said the proposed lots exceed minimum lot-depth and lot-area requirements, with lot depths averaging about 270 feet and lot areas roughly 12,000 to 12,500 square feet.

"Staff is recommending approval of this request," Johnson said, noting the reduction would yield about 3.1 dwelling units per acre (six lots) versus about 2.9 units per acre if the property were divided into five lots. Johnson added the property is currently vacant; a previous dwelling had…