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Board denies rear‑yard setback variance request for 1812 Seals Drive
Summary
A request to reduce the minimum rear‑yard setback from 30 feet to 10 feet for an addition at 1812 Seals Drive was denied after board members said they could not find statutory grounds showing the lot is unique or that hardship criteria were met.
The Community Development Board voted to deny a variance that would have reduced the rear‑yard setback at 1812 Seals Drive from 30 feet to 10 feet, concluding the application did not meet the ordinance’s standards for granting relief.
Kevin Oster, city planner, said the proposed addition encroaches 20 feet into the required setback for the Selva Marina zoning context and reminded the board of the criteria the board must find to grant a variance. Applicant James West described the house layout and said the garage had been built forward, pushing living space to the rear; he said the home had been unoccupied and that the addition was intended to renovate and improve livability without cutting trees.
Board members probed whether the lot is substandard or otherwise unique and whether the requested 10‑foot setback was necessary to allow reasonable use. Several members said the application did not provide sufficient evidence that the statutory grounds for variance were met and moved to deny.
A motion to deny the variance was moved and seconded and the board denied the request by voice vote.
What’s next: The denial closes this variance request; the applicant may revise and reapply or pursue alternate designs that comply with the rear‑yard setback.
