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Commission approves 1,499‑sq‑ft accessory dwelling unit at 2450 Westchester Drive with lighting restriction
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a special use permit for Christopher and Mary Anne Ray to construct a 1,499‑square‑foot accessory dwelling unit at 2450 Westchester Drive, with a stipulation banning exterior lighting on the south and west elevations. Vote: 4‑1.
The Lucas City Planning & Zoning Commission voted Aug. 14 to grant Christopher and Mary Anne Ray a special use permit to allow a 1,499‑square‑foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 2450 Westchester Drive, with a condition prohibiting exterior lighting on the south and west sides of the structure.
Staff presented the application and noted the property is zoned R‑1. Development services described the building layout — an office, bar area, living/dining space, full bath, laundry and garage — and said the proposal more closely matches the City of Lucas definition of an accessory dwelling unit than a traditional pool house. "This project appears to fit the definition of an accessory dwelling unit better than a pool house," staff said during the presentation.
Neighbors at the public hearing largely supported the Rays. David Jennings, who lives directly across the street, said: "They have honestly, the nicest house in the neighborhood... I just wanted to show up tonight and throw my support behind them." The chair read two letters in favor, one from a Stonegate HOA representative and one from a neighbor, Tanisha McLennan.
During commission deliberations, a commissioner asked whether a reasonable person could view the layout as a one‑bedroom house; commissioners agreed the ADU definition better fit the submitted plans and discussed stipulations. The chair moved to approve the request "for a specific use permit to allow an accessory dwelling unit totaling 1,499 square feet in size with the following stipulation: No exterior lighting permitted on the south or west sides of the ADU." The motion was seconded and carried by a vote of 4‑1; one commissioner recorded a nay vote.
Authority and code: the application was considered under City of Lucas Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14 (Zoning), Division 8 (Accessory Buildings/Special Use Permits). The commission's action allows the ADU with the stated lighting restriction; no modifications to the city's zoning code were made.
Next steps: the approved SUP will proceed to any required administrative steps for permit issuance; the chair indicated the approval moves the item forward and residents were encouraged to monitor building permit submittals.
