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Board denies variance for garage extension and covered outdoor kitchen at corner lot
Summary
A requested variance to extend a garage and cover an outdoor kitchen at 8028 High Drive — proposed 7 ft from the property line where 15 ft is required — was denied after members found the application failed key variance criteria and noted risks to rights of adjacent owners.
The Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals denied an application from homeowner Jenny Bunner of 8028 High Drive seeking an 8‑foot side‑setback variance for a garage extension and to cover an outdoor kitchen.
Bunner said the property is an irregular, corner lot with effectively two front yard setbacks and limited rear‑yard options; she said the additional three feet beyond a prior approval were needed to provide accessible space for aging parents and to preserve trees. The board reviewed a previous approval for a different configuration and noted that the current proposal represented a larger encroachment.
During deliberations several members expressed concern that a 7‑ft side setback is very close to neighboring property lines and that the rights of adjacent property owners must be preserved. The board voted sequentially on the variance criteria, found that the rights‑of‑adjacent‑owners criterion (and related factors) had not been met, and then voted to deny the application. The chair advised Bunner she could reapply for a narrower scope or pursue other remedies; staff will send a written denial.
