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Planning Commission approves variance for 714 Bartell Street despite substandard lot area
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Summary
The Planning Commission voted to approve a variance allowing two lots at 714 Bartell Street to be combined via certified survey map even though the resulting lot area is about 9,200 sq ft, under the 10,000-sq-ft minimum. Commissioners cited an existing lot line running through the building and neighbor support; the approval will go to city council for final action.
The Planning Commission approved a variance for 714 Bartell Street (case Z22026) to permit combining two existing lots by certified survey map, despite the resulting lot area being ‘‘right around 9,200 square feet, or 0.21 acres,’’ below the 10,000-square-foot minimum required in the property’s two-family zoning district.
A staff member told the commission the certified survey map would not change exterior boundaries but would remove an internal dotted line where the existing lot line currently runs through an existing building. ‘‘The area to be right around 9,200 square feet, or 0.21 acres,’’ the staff member said, explaining why the application requires a zoning variance rather than only CSM approval. The staff member also said he had discussed the matter with the director of Public Works, who ‘‘was comfortable’’ waiving a related requirement.
The chair said the property’s configuration leaves no extra land — neighboring lots, a street and a lagoon bound the site — and argued that the situation creates an undue hardship. ‘‘I would say that it would be causing an undue hardship because there is no other way to go,’’ the chair said, adding that resolving a lot line that runs through a building would address a longstanding nonconformity and poses no harm to the public interest.
A committee member moved to approve the variance, stating there would be no harm to the community and reiterating that the sub-10,000-square-foot lot size triggers the need for a variance. The chair seconded the motion. The commission approved the motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Commissioners and staff noted neighbors had expressed support at an earlier meeting and flagged that the lot’s physical constraints — including road geometry — strengthened the hardship rationale. Staff also suggested the city consider broader adjustments to line-division procedures to reduce similar procedural complications in future applications.
Because the commission’s approval resolves the zoning element, the item will be forwarded to city council for final action at its next meeting, the chair said. No further conditions or amendments were specified in the record of this meeting.
The commission adjourned following the vote; staff noted that future planning commission meetings may shift dates around the Memorial Day holiday and that the council hearing is scheduled for the coming Monday at 7 p.m.
