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Pearland ZBA approves special exception to rebuild fire-damaged garage at 2138 Country Club Drive
Summary
The Pearland Zoning Board of Adjustments voted 4-0 to approve a special exception allowing reconstruction of a nonconforming accessory structure at 2138 Country Club Drive after a garage was destroyed by fire; staff said new construction must meet current building, electrical and wind codes.
The Pearland Zoning Board of Adjustments on Nov. 6 approved a special exception to allow reconstruction of a nonconforming accessory structure damaged beyond 50% of its replacement cost at 2138 Country Club Drive. The board’s vote was 4-0.
City planning staff told the board the property — Lot 1, Block 1 of Green Tea Terrace Section 4 — was annexed in 1970 and the residence and detached garage were built in 1992. After a fire earlier in the year destroyed the garage, staff said the applicant proposed rebuilding the accessory structure on the same footprint, within a required 25-foot setback area, and without expanding the existing nonconformity. Staff calculated the proposed garage at about 891 square feet (approximately 62% of the primary structure and about 9% of the lot), compared with a 717-square-foot threshold that would meet current code-size limits for accessory structures.
"Once a structure is destroyed beyond 50% of the replacement value, that structure must come into compliance with our ordinance unless a special exception is granted to allow it to be rebuilt in its current configuration," City planning staff said. Staff recommended approval, noting that any rebuilt elements (electrical, wind, structural) must be brought to current building-code standards.
Resident Ralph Anderson, who identified himself as living at 2131 Country Club Drive, asked whether rebuilt electrical and wind systems would meet current standards. City staff confirmed that all new construction must comply with current building and electrical codes.
Legal counsel clarified that the structure conformed to code when originally built in 1992 and later code changes created the nonconformity; granting the special exception allows the applicant to rebuild in the prior configuration while still meeting current construction codes.
A motion to approve VAZ2025-0458 as presented was moved and seconded and passed on a 4-0 vote. The board recorded that the special exception allows the garage to be rebuilt on its prior footprint but that construction must meet contemporary building standards.
