Decatur Board approves special exceptions and variance to allow new carport to encroach into easement

The Decatur Board of Adjustments approved special exceptions for existing setback encroachments and a separate variance allowing a proposed carport to encroach 5 feet into a 10-foot utility and drainage easement during a meeting that began at 03:32 and included a staff presentation from Planning Director Lisa Hannon.

"Therefore, staff recommends denial of the variance request for the carport," Hannon said during her presentation, while recommending approval of the special exceptions for the existing structure. Hannon told the board the property was constructed in 1957, that the proposed carport would be about 200 square feet on an 11,226-square-foot lot (roughly 0.18% of the lot area), and that the existing primary structure already sits at a 19-foot front-yard setback instead of the required 25 feet.

Board members discussed easement and utility concerns; Hannon said city departments returned no notices identifying utilities in the platted easement and that, if the variance were approved, an easement-encroachment agreement with Public Works and required building permits and a structural review would be required. A board member noted an aerial view showing a neighboring carport at 1304 South Hatcher Street set similarly close to the front property line, but staff said no survey for that neighboring parcel was available to confirm exact setback comparisons.

Mr. Cross moved to approve the three special exceptions addressing front- and side-yard setbacks and the Prince Street fronting setback; Mr. Chandler seconded and the chair called a voice vote. Later, Mr. Chandler moved to approve the variance allowing the carport to encroach into the easement, Mr. Cross seconded, and the board approved the variance by voice vote. The approvals were recorded without a roll-call tally in the transcript; staff outlined the post-approval requirements for encroachment agreements and permits.