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Decatur ZBA grants limited FFE variance for 121 Hillcrest Avenue to ease driveway slope
Summary
The Zoning Board approved a finished-floor-elevation variance for 121 Hillcrest Avenue but capped the allowed elevation, aiming to reduce driveway slope and drainage concerns while limiting overall building height relative to neighbors.
The Decatur Zoning Board of Appeals on April 14 granted a variance to raise the first-floor elevation at 121 Hillcrest Avenue, but imposed a not-to-exceed elevation to limit the house's height relative to neighbors.
Applicant Maria Lamos and her team said the property's small size (about 60 by 63 feet) and steep grade would produce an extremely steep driveway (roughly 26%) if the home were built strictly to the code-required elevation. The applicant's engineer presented alternative FFE options (42–56 in the submitted table) and argued that raising the FFE would improve driveway grade and provide positive drainage; the applicant said the basement floor is intended as living space and to provide accessible entry for an aging family member.
Board members criticized building a larger basement as the main solution but acknowledged the lot's size and slope create real design constraints. The board discussed height sensitivity in recent UDO updates and the desire to avoid houses that tower over neighbors. After debate, the board approved an FFE variance with a condition that the final FFE not exceed 10 53 (recorded in hearing as 1053) and required construction to be substantially similar to the plans presented.
The approval allows the applicant to proceed with more detailed engineering and permitting but leaves coordination with city engineering and the fire/building-permit process to staff. Several board members said they wanted a clear not-to-exceed condition to prevent excessive height above the street level.
