Board recommends reduced setback for Dewey Avenue addition, approves 5-foot variance

The Ocean Springs Zoning and Adjustment Board voted Nov. 12 to recommend approval of a variance that reduces the north-side setback for 512 Dewey Avenue from 10 feet to 5 feet, allowing the property owner to construct a home addition.

Staff explained the lot at 512 Dewey Avenue is smaller than the typical R-2 lot (about 9,025 square feet and roughly 55 feet wide), and that the lot does not meet the usual R-2 width requirement. Amanda presented the staff report and noted the adjacent property to the north is a city parking lot.

Kelly Lane, the applicant, said she is "basically looking to add" space to accommodate a growing family and that she had obtained a prior south-side variance in 2015 that she did not fully utilize. Lane told the board she is willing to collaborate with the city on gated access through the neighboring parking lot and that a drainage easement behind the property provides additional access for emergency vehicles.

A staff/board member (S6) ran a calculation adjusting the board’s typical 25% variance allowance to reflect the lot’s narrowness and arrived at roughly a 5.2-foot setback; Lane said she could work with a 5-foot standard and the board settled on a clean 5-foot setback for the recommendation.

A motion to recommend approval of the variance from 10 feet to 5 feet was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair said the recommendation will appear on the Board of Aldermen consent agenda next Tuesday and cautioned that aldermen might pull the item for further discussion; Lane was told how to request time to speak if aldermen allow removal from consent.

Next steps: the Board of Aldermen will consider the recommendation; the applicant will submit final plans reflecting the approved setback.