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Belgrade board approves setback variance for Hewitt property to allow garage
Summary
The Belgrade Board of Adjustments approved variances reducing front, secondary‑front and a partial side‑yard setback for a triangular lot at 10th Street and West Southview Avenue so the owner‑builder can include a garage and small ADU, following staff recommendation and brief neighborhood support.
Brad Stein, senior planner for the city of Belgrade, told the Board of Adjustments that staff recommends approval of a variance to reduce a garage front setback from 25 feet to 10 feet, shorten the secondary‑front setback from 10 feet to 5 feet and allow a small portion of a driveway to encroach to 0 feet on the side yard for a triangular lot at the north corner of 10th Street and West Southview Avenue.
The variance request, filed on behalf of applicant and owner‑builder Mike Hewitt, applies to a roughly 2,830‑square‑foot lot in the Armstrong addition. Stein said the lot’s irregular triangular shape and topography create an unusual hardship and noted that infill development in this area is consistent with city policy.
"Staff does recommend approval of this setback," Stein said during his presentation, explaining that the lot was platted in a way that makes conventional setbacks impractical and that the proposed layout preserves right‑of‑way uses such as the nearby fire department connection and utilities.
Hewitt, who identified himself as the owner and builder, told the board he and his team want to create a safe, comfortable and affordable starter home for a young family and that a garage is important in Montana for vehicle and equipment storage. "There's gotta be a way that we can make this something that's safe, comfortable, and affordable for a new family," Hewitt said.
Neighbor Allison Miles, who said she owns property nearby, told the board she received the mailed notice and supports redevelopment of the corner, describing it as in need of cleanup and saying additional housing with a garage would be a benefit for younger families.
A board member moved to approve the variance as written, and the motion was seconded. The chair called for a voice vote; the motion was adopted "as presented," with no numerical tally recorded in the transcript.
The board noted a desire for curb improvements in the location and discussed that sidewalk installation or waivers would be addressed during permitting. The interim chair then closed the meeting and adjourned.
What happens next: the approval authorizes the setback reductions outlined in the motion. Any permit requirements (sidewalks, curb, utilities) and final building permits will be handled through the city’s normal development and permitting process.
