Board approves setback reductions, accepts sewer easement for East 47th Street subdivision

The Zoning Board of Adjustments unanimously approved variances for 351 East 47th Street (case ZBA 25-22351) that will allow reduced front setbacks along Travis Street and East 47th Street to permit subdivision into four lots.

Austin Reed, senior planner, presented the Lakeview neighborhood case and said the site is about 0.46 acres and is being subdivided into four similar houses. Reed explained the applicant sought relief from the standard front-yard requirement because the top lot is a true double-frontage lot; the requested setbacks included roughly 19 feet along Travis and 6 feet along 47th in lieu of the 25-foot standard. Nineteen notices were mailed; staff received one opposition across the street but no reason was listed in the mailed response.

Engineer Erica Wilde explained the project was constrained by sewer availability and that the team placed a 20-foot drainage and utility easement at the rear of the lots to accommodate a sewer line. "We had to put a 20 foot easement in the back for a sewer line," she said, and added the lots are the only ones in the area without sewer service. Board members discussed drainage patterns, the easement, and whether the sites triggered stormwater detention requirements; staff said the parcels did not trigger detention because each lot is smaller than one acre, but that proper grading and site work remain required.

After public comment and discussion, a board member moved to approve as presented; the motion passed 6–0. The director of planning and development services later praised staff and the applicant for working together and said staff will pursue ordinance revisions to reduce repeat double-frontage cases in the future.