Board of Adjustment approves 4% site-coverage variance for 602 Rue Du Fleur Drive

The Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Aug. 15 to grant a 4% site-coverage variance for 602 Rue Du Fleur Drive, permitting a partially covered rear deck and a spa.

Samantha Sunhausen, an applicant with Pointer Landscape, said she was representing the Howard family and described the project as a rear deck attached to the house with a covered section, fireplace and a separate hot tub pad. "We are applying for a variance request for their home in order to construct the deck and temperature structure off the back of their house," Sunhausen said, noting that the hot tub itself was not the element triggering the variance request.

Bethany Moore, city planner, told the board that the lot was annexed and apparently assigned an A zoning designation even though its size is similar to smaller residential-design-development (RDD) parcels. "The lot in question is significantly smaller than the A lots," Moore said, and she explained that the house as built already consumes most allowable coverage under the A designation. Moore added that the adjacent property at 610 Rue Du Fleur received a larger site-coverage variance in 2023.

Moore reviewed the variance criteria the board must consider, including whether the condition is unique to the property, whether the hardship was created by the applicant, and whether granting relief would harm neighbors or the public. She argued the combination of the lot's size and its historic misclassification met the standards for hardship.

During questioning, board members sought design and safety details: a member asked if the deck would be attached and whether it would have a roofline; Sunhausen confirmed the deck would attach to the house, the right half would be covered with a pitched roof, and exterior materials would match the house. The applicant said the backyard already has perimeter fencing and the deck will include picket rails and a lockable gate similar to pool locks to address hot-tub safety concerns.

The board moved to approve the variance "allowing for the additional 4% site coverage area for the property at 602 Rue Du Fleur Drive above the allowed site coverage maximum of 25%" to permit the partially covered rear deck and spa. The motion recited the required findings — unique condition, hardship not created by the owner, no adverse effect on neighbors, practical difficulty from strict application, no public-safety risk, and consistency with the spirit of the zoning chapter — and received a second.

In a roll-call vote, Wylen, Kastelic, Gerst, Mooney and Mayerson each voted in favor; the motion passed. The board then directed staff to prepare and authorize the chair to sign findings of fact and conclusions of law reflecting the board's decision from the Aug. 15, 2024 hearing.

Planning staff noted letters of support from neighbors were included in the meeting packet. The board's calendar showed no applications for the following month and the meeting was adjourned.

What happens next: staff will draft the written findings and conclusions and the applicant must pursue required permits at the building-permit stage. The variance becomes effective per the board's order after the required documentation is signed and filed.