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Board of Appeals approves Riverdale homeowner's variance for front-yard driveway
Summary
Prince George's County Board of Appeals granted variances and a parking-location waiver to permit a 20-by-40-foot driveway and validate an existing reduced lot width at 5811 Roanoke Avenue in Riverdale; vote was 3-0.
The Prince George's County Board of Appeals on Jan. 29 voted 3-0 to approve variances allowing a front-yard driveway and to validate an existing reduced lot width for a Riverdale homeowner.
Petitioner Olbin Maximino Mejia sought a variance of 10 feet in lot width at the building line and a waiver of the parking-area location requirement to validate an existing condition and obtain a building permit for a proposed 20-by-40-foot driveway at 5811 Roanoke Avenue in Riverdale. Mejia said he bought the house 19 years ago and now needs space to park multiple family vehicles and a work van containing tools after recent vandalism in his neighborhood.
The request was presented with Spanish interpretation provided by Ruben Soto Gomez. Mejia told the board that school and work travel by his children and recent reductions in on-street parking near his house had made off-street parking necessary; he also noted the planned opening in 2027 of the nearby Riverdale Height Metro station, which he said would further reduce on-street parking availability.
Vice Chair Johnston said she found the lot's size and topography to be unique and inclined to support the request. Johnston moved to approve the petition; Member Stanton seconded. Board Administrator called the roll: Chair Bullworth, Vice Chair Johnston and Member Stanton voted in favor. The motion carried 3-0.
The board noted that approval of a variance does not remove the need for other governmental reviews or building permits: a building permit and the board's written order must be presented to the county permits office before permits are processed, and development must follow the board-approved site and elevation plans. The board said it would follow up with the petitioner with the final written order.
The board's decision addressed discussion items (neighborhood parking conditions, vandalism, Metro opening) and a formal action (granting the variance). No written objections from adjacent neighbors were recorded in the hearing record.
Action items recorded in the hearing file include the board's approval and the standard condition that the building permit process and any additional agency approvals remain necessary.
