St. Pete Beach board approves variance to allow elevated living area, narrows rear stair encroachment

St. Pete Beach’s Board of Adjustment on Wednesday approved variance case 25136 for 3640 Bell Vista Drive East, allowing the owners to add an additional living level beneath an elevated home and to construct rear stairs that will encroach into the rear setback with conditions imposed by staff.

Brandon Berry, senior planner, told the board the application seeks two variances: a side-yard variance to allow a 5.7-foot setback where 6.5 feet is required, and a rear-stair encroachment that the board ultimately set at 15 feet 5 inches where 17 feet is required. Berry cited Land Development Code sections 8.783 and 6.22(b), walked the board through photographs and plan sheets, and recommended a condition that any stairs built under the variance provide an open base and railing consistent with the…