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Board rejects bid to repave expansive circular driveway at 1918 Notre Dame Drive
Summary
The board voted to deny a variance to exceed front‑yard impermeable coverage for 1918 Notre Dame Drive after staff said replacement of an older, permitted circular driveway triggers current pervious‑coverage standards and the proposed repaving would exceed the allowed 610 sq ft in the front setback.
Planning staff recommended denial of a variance request for 1918 Notre Dame Drive where the applicant asked to repave an existing circular driveway that staff said would total 1,142 sq ft within the front setback, exceeding the 610 sq ft maximum. Senior preservation planner Anne Hamilton summarized the site history and told the board the existing driveway is a legal nonconformity dating to a pre‑2013 permit but that replacement obligates compliance with current front‑yard pervious requirements.
"So they're proposing 1,142 square feet, and they're allowed 610," Hamilton said. The applicant’s representative said the project is a like‑for‑like repaving—replacing cracked pavers and correcting root damage from a street tree—and that neighbors support retaining the existing footprint. The board discussed repair versus replacement and whether the work could qualify as a repair (allowed for nonconforming features) or a replacement (which would trigger current code). Several board members said the variance criteria were not met and moved to disapprove; the motion carried by voice vote.
Staff advised the homeowner to pursue permitting options for a limited repair (under the city’s interpretation of repair thresholds) or to work with staff to refine a solution that balances ADA access, driveway slope and code requirements. The board said the larger issue of citywide nonconformities merits future code review but that the variance process was not the appropriate mechanism for this case.
