BZA approves garage intrusion variance for Hudson and Lehigh plans with conditions

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance to increase allowable garage intrusion from 2 feet to 3 feet for the Hudson and Lehigh floor plans, subject to three conditions staff recommended. The board admitted evidence, approved the variance and later adopted written findings of fact that incorporated the evidence into the decision.

Staff explained the 2-foot standard is an aesthetic rule intended to prevent garage-dominant facades and that it had been developed after prior debate (it was reduced from larger values in past deliberations). Staff recommended denial of the variance for lack of practical difficulty but listed three conditions that would apply if the board approved the request, including conditioning an approval on successful rezoning to residential attached (RA), limiting the variance to the Hudson and Lehigh plans, and requiring a minimum of 5% transparency or equivalent architectural features on those elevations.

The applicant's representative said the developer is willing to accept all three conditions. A board member asked whether the two floor plans could occur on multiple lots and discussed the variety of elevations available for each plan; staff explained that multiple elevations exist and that porch additions affect how the garage protrusion is measured.

A motion to approve the variance with the three conditions listed in the staff report carried 4-0. The board then moved to adopt written findings of fact for petition PZA2026-003; that motion also carried 4-0. The chair said final action would occur in two weeks and noted the planning commission would consider a related item later the same day.