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Fort Thomas Board of Adjustments approves six zoning variances, including driveway and garage requests
Summary
At its meeting, the Fort Thomas Board of Adjustments granted setback, driveway-width and garage-height variances for six properties after applicants and neighbors spoke; the board attached one conditional limit to a garage replacement and directed applicants to coordinate final plans with city staff.
The Fort Thomas Board of Adjustments approved dimensional variances for six properties after a public hearing that included applicant testimony and neighborhood concerns.
Most urgent among the items was a request by Jacob Ortman for a 10-foot front-setback variance at 127 Tower Hill Road to allow a 20-foot front setback instead of the 30-foot requirement because of steep topography. After applicant testimony and neighbor comments about drainage and a nearby natural spring, the board approved the variance based on evidence presented at the hearing.
Other approvals included: a 1.4-foot left-side setback for an addition and deck at 65 St. Nicholas Place (case 26-1708); retroactive approval to widen a driveway at 33 Mill Run Drive to about 35 feet at the street (case 26-1709); a side-yard variance to replace an existing one-car garage at 2016 Nicholas Place with a limit on how much longer the replacement may be (case 26-1710); an amendment to an earlier-approved attached-garage setback at 716 South Grand Avenue to allow a 3.3-foot right-side setback at the closest corner (case 26-1711); and a 5-foot height variance to build a detached garage up to 20 feet tall at 22 Forest Avenue to provide storage loft space (case 26-1712).
The board attached a condition to the Rustman (2016 Nicholas Place) approval limiting the replacement garage’s length to no more than 5 feet greater than the existing garage to guard against an oversized future structure. In the driveway case the board discussed state law that staff noted means the board is not required to grant a variance purely because the work was already performed; the board nonetheless approved the Grosses’ request after hearing neighbor concerns about drainage and retaining walls.
Votes were recorded by roll call for each motion; each listed motion carried with board members voting in favor. The board consistently advised applicants to coordinate final permit plans and any geotechnical or engineering requirements with city staff (Mr. Stewart) before beginning construction.
The board noted one scheduled case (26-1713, 22 Rossmore) had been withdrawn and adjourned the meeting.
