Board approves variance to allow existing accessory dwelling at 850 square feet for 1001 Avenue L

The Dickinson Board of Adjustment voted to grant a variance allowing an existing accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 1001 Avenue L to be 850 square feet, exceeding the Unified Development Code’s 600‑square‑foot limit. The public hearing opened at 6:35 p.m.; Building Official (speaker S5) summarized the request and recommended approval to allow the owner to keep the 850‑square‑foot dwelling while building a new primary residence on the roughly 3.6‑acre lot.

The applicant (speaker S4) described purchasing the property in 2021 and said he intends to build a larger primary home and keep the smaller existing house on site so his family can remain in Dickinson. “I ask that y’all approve this variance so that way I can stay on my land and stay in the city of Dickinson and, raise a family,” the applicant said.

Staff told the board the case is atypical because the dwelling was existing and that Planning & Zoning has recommended increasing the ADU allowance to 1,000 square feet in a pending development code package, but any citywide change would require council action and would not affect this property today. Staff noted ADU safeguards in the UDC — a single electric/gas/water meter and an owner‑residence requirement — intended to limit short‑term rentals.

A board member (speaker S6) moved to grant the variance as presented; another member (speaker S3) seconded. The maker amended the motion to explicitly approve an 850‑square‑foot ADU; the board voted by voice and the motion passed with no recorded opposition. The chair closed the hearing at 6:48 p.m.