Board of Adjustment approves variances for addition at 930 North 16th Avenue in Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach — The Board of Adjustment approved variances for an addition at 930 North 16th Avenue on the case file BOA24-100144 after hearing testimony from applicant Joseph Matzinger and reviewing neighbor support letters.

During the quasi-judicial hearing, the board read the requested variances into the record: a rear yard setback of 5 feet in lieu of the 30-foot minimum; an east side yard setback of 2.8 feet in lieu of 10 feet; lot coverage of 47.5 percent in lieu of the 35 percent maximum; and a parking-area setback of 1.2 feet in lieu of a 5-foot minimum. The property is listed in the case materials as parcel 175244-0000.

Joseph Matzinger, who was sworn and testified, said the lot is nonconforming and undersized (he cited roughly 7,300 square feet versus a standard 10,000-square-foot lot requirement), and that existing encroachments and construction costs led the family to pursue a rear addition rather than a second floor. "We have three children currently, and we were looking for more space, and we're looking to stay on our property," Matzinger said. He also said the plan removes a shed that was encroaching into an easement.

Board members questioned the survey and setback lines; staff clarified the proposed rear of the structure would sit at the easement line and that the proposed building edge would effectively be 5 feet from the applicants' rear fence. An attendee raised whether a nearby utility easement (referenced in discussion as related to "Elder Works") remained active; a member of the public said the easement "is not even there anymore," which the applicant said would simplify the request.

The board noted the lot length is 106 feet and that many neighborhood lots are commonly 50 by 125 feet, a factor the board cited in assessing the hardship and consistency with surrounding properties. Two neighbor support letters were read into the record, including one signed by Jeffrey Davis of 922 16th Avenue North.

A board member moved that the application met the conditions required by the applicable zoning code provision cited in the record; the motion was seconded. The motion carried with the members present voting in favor. During roll call later in the meeting the members named were John Wallen, Jeff Traylor, Todd Smith, Jennifer Williams and Matt Metz; each voiced approval when the vote was called.

The board also handled routine procedural items after the case, including confirming attendance and considering minutes from the Feb. 21 meeting. The board noted its next meeting date on the agenda.

What the decision means: The approved variances allow the applicants to proceed with the rear addition as described in the plans on file with the Board of Adjustment; any building permits or further approvals remain subject to standard permitting processes and code compliance checks.