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Board denies variance request at 512 Dewey Avenue citing drainage and precedent concerns
Summary
Planning staff explained a variance request to reduce a 10-foot side-yard setback; ZAB recommended a 5-foot approval but aldermen raised flooding and precedent concerns and denied the request on a board voice vote.
City planning staff presented a request for a side-yard setback variance at 512 Dewey Avenue. The property is zoned R-2 (low–medium density residential); staff reported the lot is approximately 9,025 square feet with an average width of about 55 feet, short of the R-2 minimums (11,250 sq ft and 80-foot lot width). The applicant had requested a reduction from the 10-foot requirement to 2 feet 6 inches to build an addition. Zoning advisory staff (ZAB) reviewed the case and recommended approval to a 5-foot setback (described as a 25% allowance) rather than the requested 2.5 feet.
Board members questioned the variance calculation and raised concerns about incremental loss of green space, a drainage easement on the property and the potential for increased runoff into city stormwater systems. Several aldermen said approving a larger-than-allowed variance risked setting an unfavorable precedent. After discussion a motion to deny the variance request from 10 feet to 5 feet at 512 Dewey (PIDN 60137336) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The staff report and ZAB materials will be filed with the clerk and the applicant may appeal or reapply consistent with UDC procedures.
