Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals grants variances and exception for several homes; approves generator placement variance

LEAWOOD, Kan. — The Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday approved four variances and one exception for single‑family properties, including a request to place a permanently installed generator in a side yard and a front‑setback variance for an irregular lot.

The approvals came after staff reports, applicant presentations and board discussion applying the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) criteria: uniqueness of the property, rights of adjacent property owners, hardship, public safety and the spirit and intent of the code.

Board Chair opened the meeting and said the board would hear applicants and ask that presentations be concise. The board confirmed a quorum and approved the minutes from its December meeting before hearing the night's cases.

High Drive front‑setback variance Architect Charlie Russell told the board the home's irregular lot shape produces an atypical front‑build calculation under the LDO, and that the proposed two‑side addition (including a garage and a primary suite) would not project farther forward than the original house. "The irregular shape of the lot does not fit what the code intends," Russell said, arguing that strict application of the formula would effectively require tearing down the existing home.

City staff told the board the proposed addition…