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Oro Valley board approves variance to extend porch at 500 East San Moritz Place
Summary
The Board of Adjustment approved a variance allowing a porch extension at 500 East San Moritz Place to encroach into the front-yard setback, after staff and the applicant cited steep natural grade and the need for a level, usable porch; there were no public comments.
The Oro Valley Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance allowing a porch extension at 500 East San Moritz Place that will encroach into the front-yard setback.
Principal planner Michael Spathe told the board that the property’s natural slope — a roughly 20-foot drop across the lot — prevents the homeowner from using the code’s existing front-yard encroachment allowance without additional fill and raising the porch. Spathe recommended approval, saying staff found that all five zoning-code and state-law findings had been met and that the increase would be modest. “Granting the variance will not be materially detrimental to the neighbors,” Spathe said.
The applicant’s representative, William Carranza, said the proposal would extend the patio by 7 feet 7 inches into the 30-foot front setback to create a ground-level patio aligned with the home’s existing patio and provide safe, level access. Carranza described the need for engineered fill of “approximately 6 to 7 feet” to match the finished floor elevation and confirmed that existing wall steps in the area would be removed and the area compacted and filled if the variance were approved.
The chair opened the public hearing; no members of the public signed up to comment and the hearing was closed. Commissioners asked technical questions about foundation work and support steps; staff and the applicant answered that the steps would be removed and compaction and fill would be completed according to engineering requirements.
A commissioner moved to approve the variance “based on the finding that the five criteria have been met.” The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The record shows staff recommended approval and the board granted the variance; permit-level details and any engineering approvals will follow through the town’s permitting process.
