City Board Approves Controversial Lot Coverage Variance

In a recent government meeting, the board unanimously approved a variance request for a property located at 407 Arlington Avenue, allowing for increased lot coverage to accommodate the installation of a pool and deck. The variance, which raises the maximum lot coverage from 50% to 56.2%, was deemed necessary due to the unique characteristics of the property, including an oversized lot of over 13,000 square feet and an unusually large driveway exceeding 1,000 square feet.

The property is situated in an R2 residential single-family zoning district, where the standard lot coverage is capped at 50%. However, the applicant, Tom Martin, explained that redesigning the existing driveway and garage was impractical, prompting the request for the variance. Despite the increase in coverage, the property will still maintain approximately 6,000 square feet of green open space.

The board's staff reported that the application met all ten conditions outlined in the local development code, specifically section 3.17.3, which pertains to the preservation of existing property uses. Following a brief discussion, the board members expressed no objections, leading to a swift motion and subsequent approval of the variance. No opposition was voiced during the meeting, and the decision reflects a consensus on the appropriateness of the request given the property's unique attributes.