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BZA grants multiple variances for infill lots citing sinkhole, lot‑size constraints
Summary
The board approved three related variance requests after the applicant presented geotechnical evidence of sinkhole activity and argued historic lot sizes and railroad easements constrained buildable area; engineering and board members accepted geotechnical hardship and topographic constraints as justification.
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved three related variances for single‑family infill lots after the applicant and engineering staff described sinkhole activity and irregular lot configurations that limited buildable area.
Agent Matthew Thompson of Simpson LLC told the board the applications involve pre‑1971 lots and closed depressions requiring geotechnical work. "We're going to have to grout it," Thompson said, describing field recommendations to avoid the red‑lined sinkhole activity. He said the railroad historically reduced lot areas and that returning the land to prior owners did not occur, creating unusual lot geometry and impervious‑area constraints.
Staff pointed to a geotechnical report and asked applicants to explain why houses could not be sited to avoid the activity. Board discussion focused on sight‑distance, lot width differences and whether moving houses could avoid variances. At least two board members said the sinkhole/topographic conditions constituted a sufficient hardship to grant the relief.
The board voted to approve BZA260020, BZA260021 and BZA260022 on the record, each motion citing sinkhole or topographic and lot‑size hardship as the justification. One staff member noted two emailed objections were on file for one of the applications but the board concluded the geotechnical constraints and existing lot configurations supported approval.
The approvals allow the applicant to proceed with adjusted house locations and setbacks subject to any conditions recorded in the permits; engineering recommended geotechnical remediation and geotech oversight where sinkhole activity was present.
