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Variance hearing set for Connors Road liquor store after engineer cites structural hardship
Summary
The Connors Road liquor store applicant provided an engineer’s hardship letter arguing that full‑brick facades would require costly structural reinforcement; staff recommended denial to uphold full‑brick code but listed conditions the council could require if it approves a concession. The applicant, architect and engineer will appear at Tuesday’s hearing.
Bridal Carter, interim director of Community Development, updated council on a pending variance request for a Connors Road retail/liquor property. Carter said the applicant supplied an engineer’s report arguing that requiring full brick on tall facades would create a structural hardship and substantially increase foundation loads compared with a thin veneer option such as Nichiha panels.
Carter explained staff’s position: the code requires full brick on facades and staff recommends upholding that standard, but the applicant has submitted structural documentation and renderings arguing for an alternative. Carter said staff had outlined four conditions that would apply if council chose to grant a variance to allow Nichiha fiber‑cement panels instead of full brick.
Council members asked technical questions about the engineering letter and the comparative weights (the engineer stated full brick could be an order of magnitude heavier per linear foot than a thin veneer). The council agreed the item requires further review with the applicant present and scheduled the hearing for the Tuesday meeting so the applicant, architect and engineer could present their evidence and answer questions.
Next steps: the applicant will appear at the public hearing on Tuesday where council will decide whether to approve the variance subject to conditions or require full brick construction to meet code.
