Board approves setback reductions for St. Mary on the Hill parish; approval conditioned on COA and lot combination recordation

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances to reduce front-yard setbacks for proposed parish life and social-hall buildings at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, contingent on the Historic Preservation Commission’s certificate of appropriateness (COA) and recording of a required lot combination.

Todd Kennedy of Planning and Development outlined petition PZA‑26‑03: the project spans multiple parcels that the applicant expects to combine, resulting in roughly 5.61 acres. The proposal calls for demolition of four existing buildings, reconfigured parking, and two new large buildings. Kennedy said the project requires multiple entitlement steps — rezoning (recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by City Commission), a special exception (recommended and approved), and a COA (postponed by the Historic Preservation Commission and scheduled for a later hearing).

Elizabeth McGee, representing the applicant, told the board the parcels have been in church use for many years and that the new construction would not encroach closer to the street than existing buildings. Planning staff recommended denial on the variance alone, but offered recommended conditions if the board chose to approve: allow front-yard setbacks of 7 feet on one frontage and 11 feet on the street frontage as shown in submitted plans, and require the lot combination be recorded before building permits are issued.

Miss Williams moved to approve the variance with staff’s recommendations and to make COA approval a condition; the board voted unanimously in favor. The board emphasized that lot combination recordation and HPC/COA approval must occur before permits are issued and that Certificate of Appropriateness review by the Historic Preservation Commission remains required.

The board concluded public business and moved into a legal/executive session to handle a legal matter.