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Planning board backs homeowner’s elevated‑house variance, asks for consistent plans before council
Summary
After hearing technical testimony and neighbor support, the Planning Advisory Board recommended City Council approve a variance allowing a front‑yard stair encroachment to permit an 11‑foot full‑story lift of a flood‑damaged home at 2170 Sheepshead Drive, conditioned on submission of consistent architectural and engineering plans.
The Planning Advisory Board voted to recommend approval of a variance that will allow a homeowner at 2170 Sheepshead Drive to raise a single‑family house to improve flood resiliency and retain covered parking beneath the elevated structure.
Owner Susan Pearson described repeated flood damage during recent storms and explained why a full‑story lift (approximately 11 feet) is the recommended option by multiple lift contractors and the applicant’s engineers; the higher lift supports covered parking, reduces maintenance and increases long‑term insurance discounts. The proposed stair configuration creates an encroachment into the front yard; board members and staff asked for a single, consistent plan set clarifying stair geometry and the narrowed spatial‑perception issue the applicant has since addressed. The board’s recommendation to council is conditional on receipt of consistent drawings that demonstrate how the stair design will meet safety and aesthetic concerns.
