Board approves garage variance at 1719 South Riverside with condition after neighbors raise flooding concerns

The City of Edgewater Planning & Zoning Board on Aug. 14 approved a variance allowing a detached garage at 1719 South Riverside Drive, with a condition that an existing shed on the southwest corner be removed.

Staff had recommended denial for VA2413, citing the applicant could not meet the nonadministrative variance criteria in Article 9, section 21-100.04(d). The applicant, David Conlon, identified himself as the registered owner and described the request as needed for vehicle parking and storage. "I'm the owner, registered owner of 1719 South Riverside Drive… I have 3 kids… there's just nowhere to park," Conlon said during the public hearing.

Neighbors speaking during public comment urged caution. Cheryl Balambini, who said she has lived at 1705 South Riverside Drive since 1999, warned about existing unpermitted earthen walls and localized flooding near Parkwood Lane, saying, "I cannot in good conscience support this request for the variance at 1719 South Riverside Drive." Another neighbor, Jay Michael McKay of 1717 South Riverside Drive, said the flooding results from earlier public works and called the applicant a good neighbor.

Following questions about whether the application included a third accessory structure, a board member moved to approve VA2413 on the condition that only two structures remain (the main house and the new detached garage) and that the shed in the southwest corner be removed. The motion passed on a voice/roll-call vote with board members recorded as approving.

The board's action authorizes the reduced front-yard setback and the accessory-structure allowances described in the application; staff noted the applicant will still need to meet building-permit requirements and any applicable stormwater or site-work approvals before construction begins.

Provenance: topic introduced SEG 026; public hearing and motion concluded SEG 381.