Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Variances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Design review board recommends BZA approve variances allowing 1,544-sq-ft guest house at 2410 Bethany Bend
Summary
The Milton Design Review Board recommended approval of two variances for 2410 Bethany Bend (V26012410): an increase of the guest-house size from 1,500 to 1,544 sq ft and permission to locate the guest house in front of the main home. The board cited ADA needs and site constraints and urged neighbor letters for the BZA filing.
The City of Milton Design Review Board voted to recommend approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for two variances affecting 2410 Bethany Bend (case V26012410): raising the maximum heated floor area for a guest house from 1,500 square feet to 1,544 square feet and permitting the guest house to be located in front of the primary residence.
Staff (Michael Cardeman) described the lot as AG-1 zoning, more than 7 acres with state waters and stream buffers in the rear, and noted a 0.22-acre plat discrepancy between neighboring pins that must be corrected through a minor plat process. The applicant’s representative, Kathleen Woodruff, told the board the owners, Steve and Heather Green, purchased the property in 2023 and are seeking the guest house to provide ADA-compliant living space for a direct family member who sustained a severe injury. "The ADA compliant has been a really big part of this project," Woodruff said, explaining the extra 44 square feet accommodates accessible restrooms, wider doorways and possible overnight caregiver accommodations.
Board members praised the thoroughness of the site presentation, asked for signed neighbor support letters to accompany the BZA application, and recommended the applicant articulate the four variance criteria (hardship, uniqueness, unnecessary hardship if denied, and reasonableness) when presenting to the BZA. Staff and applicants emphasized limited flat building area on the lot due to steep topography and environmental buffers; the applicant said no trees will be removed and that neighbors contacted so far are supportive.
The board’s recommendation is advisory to the BZA; the Design Review Board made the recommendation by unanimous voice vote and recorded no public opposition during the meeting. Board members advised the applicant to include neighbor letters and explicit ADA justification when filing to the BZA to strengthen the variance case.
Provenance: topic introduced at SEG 336 (courtesy review) and concluded with motion and vote recorded through SEG 684.
