Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Auburn BZA approves variance to let owner split 3530 County Road 427 lot with 50‑foot frontage
Summary
At its April meeting the Auburn Board of Zoning Appeals approved a development‑standards variance (BZA 2026‑004) allowing the owner of 3530 County Road 427 to split the property and create a rear lot with 50 feet of frontage instead of the R1 requirement of 100 feet; approval requires the applicant to show acquisition of an adjacent 50‑ft strip during platting.
At its April meeting the Auburn Board of Zoning Appeals approved a development‑standards variance that lets the owner of 3530 County Road 427 divide the parcel and create a new rear lot with only 50 feet of frontage instead of the R1 zoning requirement of 100 feet.
City planner James Caterette presented the staff report, saying the request is to reduce the minimum lot width for the proposed new lot from 100 feet to 50 feet and that the property would be subdivided into a front lot that retains the existing house and a flag lot in the rear. Caterette told the board the site is within Auburn's extraterritorial jurisdiction, water and sewer service are available along the county road, each resulting lot must meet the minimum area requirement of 14,500 square feet, and a hard‑surface driveway and connection to city water and sewer would be required for any new house.
Caterette also said notice of the hearing was published on April 14 and five adjacent property owners were mailed notice; staff reported receiving no written objections and recommended approval, noting the unusual nature of a flag lot but concluding the property can meet setback and area standards.
The applicant, Dave Bassett, introduced himself and his address and described his plan: "I'm just hoping to build a house back there on the back side of our property." He told the board he had discussed the proposal with the neighbor to the south, who "...said, 'Oh, you take really good care of your house and you know, we know that you'll build a nice house, so.' She was all for it, so." The applicant also said he and a brother own the adjacent warehouse property to the north, which he intends to acquire or use to create the necessary frontage.
Board members asked whether approval should be conditioned on the applicant's acquisition of the adjacent 50‑foot strip. Caterette explained that the variance can be granted by the board but that the subdivision platting process requires the applicant to demonstrate he has the necessary 50 feet of frontage before a plat can be recorded; if the applicant cannot obtain the land, the variance would be moot because the plat would not meet requirements.
After adopting the staff's findings of fact (no board member requested changes), a motion to approve BZA standard variance 2026‑004 was made and seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried; no additional conditions were added at the hearing. The approval allows the applicant to proceed to the administrative subdivision review and platting stage, at which point the applicant must show acquisition of the additional frontage and compliance with setback, lot area, driveway, and utility requirements.
The board also noted that flag lots are rare within the city and that the approval was informed by the lack of recorded neighbor objections and the applicant's ownership interests in adjacent property. The meeting then moved to reports and was adjourned.
