Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Setback Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ZBA approves 8‑foot front‑setback reduction at property on Third Street
Summary
The Zoning Board granted a special exception to reduce a required 20‑foot front yard setback to 12 feet for a Third Street property, aligning the new construction with adjacent homes and avoiding potential conflict with bulkhead tiebacks.
GALVESTON, Texas — The Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 5 approved a special exception to reduce the front‑yard setback for a property identified in the record as 122200 And Third Street, granting an exception to permit a 12‑foot setback where the R‑0 zoning district requires 20 feet.
Staff presented Case 25Z‑003 and said 15 notices were sent, with two returned in favor and no objections from city departments or utilities. Staff explained the Airport Homesite Subdivision predates the R‑0 zoning; when the area was rezoned in 2022 the 20‑foot setback requirement took effect even though the historic pattern of houses in the subdivision — including no formal setback requirement under the former R‑1 modified designation — does not conform to that standard.
The applicant applied for a building permit in January 2025 and, after receiving review comments, pursued a special exception to match the existing setback of the adjacent house to the north. The requested front‑setback reduction is from 20 feet to 12 feet, an 8‑foot variance staff described in the packet and with photographs and a site plan.
Applicant representative Matthew Walla told the board that conforming to the full 20‑foot setback could place new construction close to bulkhead tiebacks and create a conflict. “If we were to coincide with the city setback in the front, it’d put us real close to the tiebacks with the bulkhead,” Walla said.
No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing. A commissioner moved to approve the special exception on the grounds that the reduction would not adversely affect the value and use of adjacent property; the motion received a second and the board voted to approve. The transcript records the motion passing but does not include individual vote tallies.
Staff and the applicant will proceed with permit processing consistent with the granted setback exception; the applicant’s designer will align the proposed structure with the adjacent house as shown in the site plan submitted with the application.
