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Board defers lot-coverage variance at 121 Madison Avenue to allow revised plans
Summary
Owner requested an increase in lot coverage after a driveway was poured; the board deferred the matter to the Sept. 8 meeting so the applicant can work with staff to produce revised surveys and show efforts to reduce coverage.
The Decatur zoning board voted to defer consideration of a lot-coverage variance for 121 Madison Avenue to the board’s September 8 meeting, giving the owner time to work with city staff and provide revised site plans.
Applicant Eric Gabai told the board the contractor poured a driveway placement that followed a tree-protection plan included in a permit packet rather than the formal site plan, which resulted in an increase in lot coverage. Gabai said the poured driveway was intended to protect the house’s foundation and improve safe access to a rear carport.
Board members asked whether removing the rear extension or other concrete features would bring the property within allowable coverage. Staff and the applicant identified possible modest removals — for example, about 85 square feet from a front strip — but members said they wanted the applicant to show all reasonable efforts to reduce lot coverage before the board would approve a variance.
A motion to defer until Sept. 8 passed, allowing the applicant to submit revised drawings and a new survey that show proposed removals or other mitigations. The board advised that if revised plans still exceed allowable coverage, the applicant would need to reapply or be returned to a future agenda for formal reconsideration.
