Zoning board moved to vote on carport variance at 113 Hughes Street

At a meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals in Boerne, members put a motion on the table to approve Variance No. 26‑12, a request to allow a carport to encroach into the front garage setback at 113 Hughes Street.

Ben Simmons, a planner with the City of Boerne Planning Department, told the board the property is in an R‑2M (moderate‑density residential) zone and that the Unified Development Code sets a 25‑foot front garage setback for that district. Simmons said the existing garage sits 24.6 feet from the property line and that the proposed carport would encroach roughly 21.3 feet into the required setback — an 85.2% encroachment of the 25‑foot requirement.

The homeowner, Michelle Diani, described vehicle damage from pine debris and weather and sought the carport to protect vehicles and to make use of otherwise unusable garage space. During deliberations, several board members said they sympathized with the homeowner and noted on‑street parking and safety concerns; others said they struggled to find the required, nonfinancial, site‑specific hardship the code requires.

Board member Rich moved to approve the variance; another committee member seconded the motion. Chair put the motion to a vote and then asked for a reminder about vote counts and how the process works. The transcript does not record a final vote tally or a formal announcement of the outcome before the meeting was adjourned.

The variance under consideration was identified in the public hearing as "Variance No. 26‑12, Oak Meadows Block 1 Lot 4, 113 Hughes Street." Staff recommended the board hold the hearing, determine whether the five variance criteria were met, and either approve or deny the request. The board’s discussion centered on the extent of the encroachment, neighborhood character and sightlines, and whether the homeowner had demonstrated the unique, nonfinancial hardship required by the Unified Development Code.