Staff recommends denial of stream-buffer variance at Redding Road

Drew summarized VAR 2532 at 2853 Redding Road and said staff recommended denial, noting the lot contains about 18,279 square feet of buildable area outside stream buffers and that staff did not see a hardship warranting buffer reduction. “Staff is recommending denial, primarily because they have a massive backyard and … 18,279 square feet of buildable area that is outside of the stream buffers,” Drew said.

Commissioners asked for clarification on lot frontage and on whether the applicant had started permitting for a pool or other backyard improvements. Drew said permits had been applied for and denied in the past and that the applicant ultimately submitted a variance application. A commissioner noted gravel and driveway work visible from the street and asked whether those changes were related to the variance; staff said no permits for the gravel were evident in their records.

Commissioners also questioned the label “mulched lawn” in the application materials and whether the applicant had tied the stated purpose for the variance — “safe and reasonable recreation space for the family” — to the criteria allowed for stream-buffer variances. The Chair observed that the stated purpose did not match code criteria and asked staff whether that fit the legal standards for approval.

Staff reiterated the stream and associated buffers cover 8,307 square feet (about 22.8% of the parcel) and that even removing the buffer area the lot exceeds the minimum R-S-100 lot size of 15,000 square feet. No final action was taken at the work session; staff’s denial recommendation will accompany the case to the full hearing.