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Board backs Roseland Drive family’s request to add second floor
Summary
Homewood BZA approved a variance May 7 allowing a second‑floor addition at 1403 Roseland Drive that follows an existing kitchen footprint; neighbors testified in support and the board cited lot irregularities and floodplain constraints in finding a hardship.
The Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a variance that allows the Young family to build a second floor at 1403 Roseland Drive while keeping the existing first‑floor footprint.
Robert Martin, the residential designer for homeowner Josh Young, told the board the proposed second‑floor addition would extend over the existing kitchen, matching the current exterior walls where the ground‑level kitchen encroaches into the secondary front setback (3 feet 4 inches vs. the 10‑foot requirement). “The hardships is that the house is basically has become too small for the young family,” Martin said, describing cramped bedrooms and lack of space for overnight guests.
Several neighbors spoke in support. Tom Walker of 1402 Roseland said he and other neighbors view front and back yards as living space and described the Youngs as long‑standing community members. Courtford Irving, who lives two houses away, described the lot as “a really irregular shaped lot” and said building up would preserve yard area and avoid further footprint expansion.
Staff and board members discussed hardship standards and noted ordinances generally do not accept strictly personal reasons as hardship; staff also recorded that part of the lot touches a special flood hazard area that limits rear expansion. Martin said he had the lot resurveyed to show the house sits just outside the flood‑plain boundary.
A board member moved to approve BZA260030 for 1403 Roseland Drive; after a second and roll call, the motion carried with affirmative votes from board members present. The applicant was told to contact planner Emily Harris Miller and to pull required permits within one year. The variance approval preserves the existing footprint and allows the second‑floor work consistent with the presentation.
