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Council narrowly allows matching side pavers but denies broader impervious-surface and turf variances after neighbor complaints
Summary
After a protracted public hearing, council approved a limited variance to allow pavers on the side already matched by an adjacent neighbor but denied requests to reduce rear-yard setbacks and to raise the lot's impervious-surface cap from 75% to ~90%, citing neighbor flooding concerns and engineering limits.
A homeowner sought three variances to legalize pavers installed along both sides of the lot and synthetic turf that staff said raised the property's impervious-surface ratio near 90%, above the PUD's 75% cap. Staff recommended denial on the grounds that the requests would encroach on required drainage and utility easements and could negatively affect neighboring properties and the subdivision's stormwater capacity.
The homeowner said the work remedied persistent flooding and noted French drains and structural mitigation; neighbors submitted photos and a video showing water flow toward an adjacent yard. Council debated whether to allow limited ingress/egress paving while preserving stormwater limits, whether gutters or additional drainage conditions could mitigate runoff, and whether granting variances would create undesirable precedent.
After extended testimony by the applicant, neighbors and staff, council voted to approve only the variance that permitted side pavers on the side that matched an adjacent neighbor's existing pavers (so the two properties would align), and denied the remaining requests including the astroturf-related reduction to the rear setback and the increase in impervious-surface allowance. Council conditioned approval on removing the pavers on the opposing side and keeping the overall property within the allowed impervious-surface limits; the motion passed 4-1.
