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Board approves Fahrenbachs' variances to allow detached garage and to legalize manufactured home setback
Summary
Charlotte County BZA approved three variances for Charles and Rhonda Fahrenbach at 6632 Bernadine Boulevard to allow an existing manufactured home to remain at a 19.5-foot front setback and to permit a 12x36 detached garage with a 3-foot north side setback, citing site constraints including septic and FPL easement.
The Charlotte County Board of Zoning Appeals on March 11 approved three variances for Charles and Rhonda Fahrenbach at 6632 Bernadine Boulevard in Punta Gorda to allow an existing manufactured home to remain at a 19.5-foot front-yard setback and to permit a 12-by-36-foot detached garage with a 3-foot north side-yard setback.
Elizabeth Nocek, AICP, senior planner for the Community Development Department, presented staff's findings and told the board the property meets the five statutory criteria for a variance because site constraints—including the location of a septic system, a Florida Power & Light easement and overhead lines—limit placement options. "Our preliminary findings are that this application does meet all 5 approval criteria," Nocek said.
Applicants Charles and Rhonda Fahrenbach explained the proposed garage location is the only feasible spot on the lot and noted nearby neighbors' support. Rhonda Fahrenbach told the board the neighbor to the north "has no windows on that side," which she said lessens privacy impacts and supports placing the garage on the north side.
Neighbor Don Delmont of 6635 Bernadine Boulevard spoke in favor of the request. Following staff recommendation, a board member moved to approve VAR-26-004 incorporating three staff conditions that: limit the variances to the structures shown in the submitted documents; make the variances expire if the manufactured home or garage is removed or replaced (except following a natural disaster); and require future development to comply with applicable codes unless a new variance is granted. The motion carried by voice vote.
The board's approval allows the applicants to construct the detached garage and to legalize the existing manufactured home setback subject to the listed conditions.
