[Call to Order] [00:00:03] >> WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS [1. Approval of minutes from previous meeting held on January 14, 2020] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. >> SO MOVE >> SECOND PRESENT. FAVORABLE VOTES ARE REQUIRED TO APPROVE ANY REQUEST UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION OR VARIANCE IS GRANTED BY THIS BOARD AND THE APPLICANT HAS 180 DAYS FROM THIS DATE TO OBTAIN A BILLING PERMITTED ONE IS REQUIRED. A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THIS BOARD IF REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT AT THIS HEARING. A BUILDING PERMIT MAY BE APPLIED FOR THE DAY THE REQUEST IS APPROVED AFTER THE MEETING HAS ADJOURNED. IF THE REQUEST IS DENIED, IT MAY NOT BE RECONSIDERED BY THE SPORT UNTIL 12 MONTHS FROM THE STATE. APPEALS FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE SPORT MAY BE MADE TO A COURT OF RECORD, IN THIS CASTHE DISTRICT COURT, WITHIN 10 DAYS FROM THE THIS DATE. IF ANYONE IS COMING FORWARD TO PRESENT A CASE WE NEED TO SWERVE YOU IN. IF YOU DO PLAN ON COMING FORWARD IF YOU WOULD AT THIS TIME PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT [2. BA-2020-02: A request from Catherine Guitar for a request of an approval of a 20' variance from the 25" exterior side street setback for Residential Single-Family District 12 (RS-12); Legal description being Lot 9 and the South 15 feet of Lot 8 of Block 7 of the Elmwood Addition located at 1173 Hollis Drive, Abilene, TX 79605] HAND DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. NEW BUSINESS, FIRST ITEM IS BA 2020 ÃGO TO A REQUEST FROM CATHERINE GUITAR FOR A REQUEST OF AN APPROVAL OF A 20 FOOT VARIANCE FROM THE 25 FOOT EXTERIOR SITE SETBACK FOR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICT 12, RS 12 LEGAL DESCRIPTION BEING WHAT 9 IN THE SOUTH 15 FEET OF LOT 8 OF LOT 7 OF THE ELMWOOD ADDITION LOCATED AT 1173 HOLLIS DOCTOR, ABILENE, TEXAS. 79605. >> MY NAME IS NICK WATTS AND I SERVED AS A PLANNER HERE FOR THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT STAFF. I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS CASE WHICH IS BA 2020 Ã02. THE APPLICANT, CATHERINE GUITAR, AS WELL AS THE AGENT JEFF LUTHER CONSTRUCTION REQUEST AND APPROVAL OF A 20 FOOT VARIANCE FROM THE MINIMUM 25 FOOT EXTERIOR SITE SETBACK FOR RS 12 DISTRICT. THE LOCATION IS 1173 HOLLIS DOCTOR HERE IN ABILENE AND STAFF PREPARED NOTIFICATION LETTERS IN CH THREE WERE IN FAVOR AS OPPOSED TO ZERO O OPPOSED. THIS IS AN AREA LOCATION MAP REPRESENTING THE TRACT OF LAND. YOU CAN SEE THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION HIGHLIGHTED STRIPED IN YELLOW. THIS IS HOLLIS STREET AND S. 12TH ST. AS WELL. THIS IS A ZONING MAP SHOWING THE APPROXIMATE ZONING DISTRICTS. IT'S ALL RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICTS.THE TOP LEFT-HAND VIEW IS THE EAST VIEW OF THE PROPERTY, AND THEN TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A GENERIC VIEW OF THE EASTVIEW. AND THEN THE BOTTOM TO OUR WEST VIEWS OF THE PROPERTY. BACK IN 2003 THERE WAS A 20 FOOT VARIANCE FROM THE REQUIRED 25 FOOT EXTERIOR STREET SIGN SETBACK WHICH WAS APPROVED TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MASTER BATHROOM ADDITION TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE HOUSE. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED AND NOW THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A SECOND VARIANCE TO CONSTRUCT A 13 FOOT BY EIGHT FOOT LAUNDRY ROOM ADDITION TO THE MASTER BATHROOM. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE REPRESENTATION, IT IS NOT AN ACTUAL DETAIL OF WHERE THE ADDITION WILL TAKE PLACE. THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW RIGHT THERE. AS WE SAID EARLIER, WE SENT OUT NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO ALL NEIGHBORS WITHIN A 200 FOOT BUFFER. YOU CAN SEE THE TWO ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, BUT THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER ONE AT 8 IS A DIFFICULT WORD TO PRONOUNCE BUT RIGHT THERE. TRAFALGAR. OKAY. STAFF REVIEWED PURSUANT TO SECTION 1.4.4.2 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT. IT IS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION [00:05:04] ABSENT ANY INFORMATION FROM THE APPLICANT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT IS THE OPINION OF STAFF THAT INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED IN THE APPLICATION TO WARRANT GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE IN THIS CASE. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> ON THE AGENDA, YOU READ 20 FOOT VARIANCE, AND MINE ON THE AGENDA HAS 25 INCHES. EXTERIOR SIDE. I GUESS WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT. >> OKAY. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR NICK HI >> WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE? >> WE ENTIALLY JUST SAID THAT THE LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE SUBORDINATES COULD RESULT IN UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP, BUT WE JUST ÃSTAFF DISCERNED WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE WE WOULD NEED TO BE PROVIDED >> IN TERMS OF NEED? >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> AT THIS POINT I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.ILL THE OWNER COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THE REASON FOR YOUR REQUEST? >> ADAM LUTHER, 542 PLUM ST., ABILENE, TX 79601. I AM THE BUILDER AND RIGHT NOW THE LAUNDRY ROOM IS LOCATED IN THE KITCHEN. IT'S IN A CLOSET IN THE KITCHEN, WHICH IS NOT VERY CONTEMPORARY AND NOT UP TO DATE WITH MODERN TIMES. SO WE ARE WANTING TO GO OFF THIS OTHER VARIANCE. WE ARE NOT GOING ANY CLOSER TO THE STREET. WE ARE STAYING OFF THE VARIANCE AND GOING WEST. ADDING A NEW LAUNDRY ROOM TO THE HOUSE AND MAKING IT MORE WITH THE TIMES. >> WHAT IS THE ROUGH AGE OF THE OWNERS? >> THE AGE OF THE OWNERS? SHE'S IN HER MID-30S. >> AND THE LAYOUT ÃAS FAR AS THE LOT IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, IS THIS THE PRIMARY OPTION OR ONLY OPTION FOR DOING THIS? >> IS REALLY THE ONLY OPTIONS. IF YOU GO OUT NORTH BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY LINE, THERE REALLY IS NO ROOM TO GO OUT OVER THERE. AND ALSO, WITH PITCH LINES AND HOW ALL OF THAT LINES UP, THERE REALLY IS NO GOOD WAY TO DO IT. IT'S REALLY DO IT HERE OR DON'T DO IT IS THE OPTION. >> FROM THE DIAGRAM, THERE'S AN OBVIOUS OPEN SPACE TO THE NORTH, AND IS THAT A VIABLE AREA? >> NO. THAT'S A PATIO. IF YOU CAME OUT THAT WAY YOU WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO GO TO THE PROPERTY LINE WHICH WOULD CUT THE YARD ÃYOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE HOUSE ALL THE WAY AS IT IS NOW. >> AND YOU WOULD LOSE WINDOWS >> YOU WILL LOSE WINDOWS AND THE DOOR COMING OUT TO THE KITCHEN. PLUS WITH THE WAY THE ROOTS LINE UP IT'S REALLY JUST NOT FEASIBLE. >> OKAY. IS THAT A SEVEN FOOT FENCE? >> I BELIEVE IT IS, YES, SIR. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DISCUSSION? >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. IN THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE THERE IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STAFF, BUT THEN IN THE STAFF IT SAYS STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR APPROVAL. CAN YOU TALK TO THE DIFFERENCE THERE? >> THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT WE WERE ASKING FOR. [00:10:15] >> I AM NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE ADDITION IS LOCATED.OULD YOU SHOW THAT? >> SO THE ADDITION, AS YOU CAN SEE BASED OFF OF THIS PHOTO WHERE THE NEW EDITION WILL TAKE PLACE WHERE THE PREVIOUS EDITION WAS TAKING PLACE IN 2003 IS THAT EXTENSION TO THE SELF THERE. IT GOES TOWARDS THE FENCE LINE THERE. IF YOU WERE TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE ACROSS TOWARDS THE BACKYARD THERE >> I'M NOT FOLLOWING. IS THAT SELF 12? >> THIS WAS THE ADDITION BEFORE IT WAS APPROVED. THIS IS THE ADDITION OF POST >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >> SO THE FACT ÃTHE OWNER WANTS AN UP-TO-DATE LAUNDRY ROOM AND BASED ON THE TESTIMONY WE HAVE HEARD TODAY AND IT SEEMS THE ONLY FEASIBLE LOCATION, THAT WOULD SEEM TO ME IN MY MIND TO BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR THE APPROVAL, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND. DOES THAT GIVE EVERYBODY A WARM FUZZY? >> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT IN THE DIAGRAM. THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND A LOT >> HOW DOES THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT COMPARE WITH OTHER LOTS? >> IT'S ACTUALLY SMALLER IN WIDTH. IT'S 69 FEET. IT SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF 80. >> THANK YOU, NICK. , NARROW WIDTH OF THE LAW IS IT WASN'T CAUSED BY THE PETITIONER. >> NOR WAS THE CHANGE IN CURRENT HOUSE DESIGNS. >> RIGHT. >> I THINK THERE'S MINIMAL IMPACT ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S ON THE STREET AS OPPOSED TO A NEIGHBOR. >> I AGREE. >> AND CONSIDERING THAT MARY HAD ÃTHE VARIANCE IN 2003 >> WOULD YOU CARE TO MAKE THAT EMOTION? >> OF COURSE I DID. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE AS REQUESTED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF REPORT AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT IT IS SMALLER THAN TYPICAL LOT AND THAT THE LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE KIND OF DICTATES WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT IS PROVED TO DO. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. BUSINESS, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> ONE POINT OF ORDER BEFORE WE CONTINUE, THE MEETING WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST MONTH WAS GOING TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANGES TO CARPORTS. >> I BELIEVE YOU EMAILED THAT OUT TO US >> SO WE WERE GOING TO DO IT IN A MEETING? >> IT WAS JUST AN UPDATE ON WHAT WAS ADDED TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THEM TO CONSIDER THIS THURSDAY THEY ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING IT FOR REGULAR AGENDA AND ALSO HAVING A PUBLIC [00:15:01] HEARING ON IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, ROBERT, FOR BRINGING THAT UP. >> I MOVE FOR ADJOURNMENT. AGAIN. >> SECOND. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.