Planning Commission'appointed BZA approves variance for Garfield Elementary gym storage addition
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Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals granted variance case 2025-20, reducing the front building setback at Garfield Elementary from 30 feet to 19 feet 3 inches so a small gym-level storage addition (roughly 10 by 40 feet) can be built; staff found the property's school use and the 2020 zoning changes justify a variance.
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance (case 2025-20) to reduce the front building setback at Garfield Elementary from 30 feet to 19 feet 3 inches to allow a small storage addition for the gym.
Staff reported the school and its engineers requested the setback reduction to accommodate a roughly 10-foot-by-40-foot addition that would provide on-level storage adjacent to the gym, easing event setup and reducing the need to move folding chairs across the building. Staff gave the site size as 208,601.56 square feet (4.8 acres) and recommended the variance after applying the required findings of fact: the property's school use is unique in the R-1 zoning district since the 2020 code rewrite; strict application of current setbacks would create an unnecessary hardship for school additions; and staff found no expected adverse effect on adjacent residential properties.
Project manager Kyle Hyer of SPT architecture told the board, "this little addition is actually a storage addition for the gym itself," and explained site constraints made this the most practical location despite encroaching into the setback. After no other public objections were recorded, a commissioner moved to approve the variance; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff noted this BZA action is final and the school can proceed with permit applications.