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Commission denies homeowner's request to keep 100% synthetic front yard
Summary
After staff review and questioning about primary residence and prior code violations, the commission voted to deny a variance allowing 100% synthetic turf in a front yard, upholding the village's amended ordinance and enforcement process.
The North Bay Village Commission denied a variance request that would have allowed synthetic turf to cover 100% of a property's plantable front‑yard area despite a December 2023 citation and subsequent administrative proceedings. Planning staff explained that ordinance amendments since the citation removed some earlier variance needs but still prohibit full front‑yard coverage; the commission focused on whether the applicant had demonstrated a medical or land‑use hardship that would justify retaining the turf.
Agent Louise Saint Laurent urged the commission to consider a documented medical hardship and noted the owner had listed the residence for sale but still used it. Commissioner questioning centered on whether the house was the owner’s primary residence and on the history of code enforcement; with no compelling hardship found, commissioners voted to deny the variance. The vote followed staff advice and a planning‑and‑zoning recommendation to deny.
The denial leaves the outstanding code enforcement case and fines intact; the applicant indicated intent to pursue settlement discussions at the separate special magistrate proceeding. The commission recorded the denial on a roll call vote.
