Planning board approves three residential variances and recommends business park site plan; conditions attached

The Edgewater Planning & Zoning Board approved three separate variance requests and recommended a major site plan with conditions during its meeting.

VA 2505 (817 Starboard Ave.): Staff described a proposal to convert an existing carport into a 22-by-20-foot attached garage and to increase maximum building coverage to 42% (code requires 30%) and reduce the front-yard setback to 15.5 feet (code requires 25). City staff reported the applicant did not meet all six non-administrative variance criteria and did not recommend approval, but the applicant, Donald Jackson, told the board the addition would sit 3 feet from the house to provide fire separation and included rock-lined side pathways to manage runoff. After questions about HOA approval (staff said written HOA approval will be required at permitting), the board voted to approve VA 2505.

VA 2506 (1202 Bond St.): The board considered a request on a nonconforming duplex lot for 32.3% building coverage (vs. 30%), a 16-foot rear yard in lieu of 25 feet and a 0-foot west side setback in lieu of 10 feet to build a 12-by-37 screened enclosure. Applicant Tommy Palmitier explained the enclosure will match his neighbor’s covered area and will not extend beyond the existing concrete pad. The board approved VA 2506.

VA 2507 (203 Eaton Rd.): Staff reported multiple variances for a grandfathered corner lot, including allowing 45% maximum building coverage (vs. 30%) and a 4-foot front-yard setback in lieu of 30 feet. Applicant Fred Peters said he planned a prefab metal garage roughly 14–15 feet high to store vehicles; commissioners and staff discussed aesthetics and vehicle access. The board approved the request with a contingency limiting the detached garage to no larger than 16 by 40 feet and requiring a 10-foot north setback.

SP 2415 (2360 S. Ridgewood Ave.): Planning staff recommended approval of a BPUD site plan for a two-building business park comprising contractor-flex and commercial retail units, subject to resolving remaining TRC comments about parking dimensions, landscaping and a 6-foot vinyl fence. Consultant George Miles said the project meets 100-year stormwater storage requirements, will provide significant tree buffering (56 trees plus canopy plantings), and will add a single access from Oak Branch Drive after FDOT denied an additional access point. The board voted to recommend approval to council, conditioned on the outstanding TRC items being addressed prior to council review.

Votes at a glance: VA 2505 — approved (board roll call recorded unanimous approval); VA 2506 — approved (unanimous); VA 2507 — approved with contingency limiting detached garage to 16x40 and a 10-foot north setback (unanimous); SP 2415 — recommended for approval subject to applicant satisfying remaining TRC comments prior to council.

Next steps: Approved variances will be reflected in permit reviews and SP 2415 will move to city council with remaining conditions to resolve.