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Board approves variance to allow garage on accessory dwelling at 1720 West Cessna Way
Summary
Oro Valley’s Board of Adjustment approved a variance allowing an attached garage on an accessory dwelling unit at 1720 West Cessna Way, with staff saying the lot’s orientation toward the runway creates special circumstances and the HOA’s concerns about address and vehicle access were addressed.
The Oro Valley Board of Adjustment approved a variance permitting an attached garage on an accessory dwelling unit at 1720 West Cessna Way.
Principal planner Michael Spathe explained that zoning code section 25.2.a.2.g.i restricts garages on ADUs in front yards because the rule aims to avoid creating the appearance of two separate residences on a single lot. Spathe told commissioners that La Cholla Air Park’s lots were laid out to face the runway, so the property’s literal front lot line (along Cessna Way) does not reflect the functional front yard; from staff’s perspective the site’s configuration and lot orientation create special circumstances and meet the five required findings for a variance. “Treating the property from that perspective…means that the proposed accessory dwelling unit will be in the functional rear yard as opposed to the literal front yard,” Spathe said, and staff recommended approval.
Homeowner Luke Kemper said the owner intends to make the east structure the primary dwelling (about 4,000 sq ft) and the west structure the ADU (about 2,300 sq ft), meeting the ADU-size requirement that it be at least 1 foot smaller than the main residence. Kemper said Cessna Way does not extend along the south property line in the traditional way and that the property’s functional access is to Pilot Drive/runway; he argued that the attached-garage prohibition does not make sense in this setting and noted that detached garages in front yards would already be allowed by code.
Staff reported no neighbor opposition; the HOA president had asked only for reassurance that the property’s address would not change and that no vehicle access to the runway would be proposed, both of which staff said were not part of the request. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.
A commissioner moved to approve the variance to allow a garage on the ADU; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records approval by voice vote but does not list a roll-call tally. Any further modifications that would change access or addresses would require additional review under code.
