Vienna board unanimously approves small front-yard variance for 203 Albea Court NE

The Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on March 18 to grant a variance allowing an enclosed foyer to encroach into the front-yard setback at 203 Albea (spelled Alby in parts of the record) Court Northeast.

Andrea West, Vienna's zoning administrator, told the board the 13,426-square-foot RS-12.5 lot contains a 1967 split-level home (Fairfax County records note a major remodel in 2009) and that the RS-12.5 district requires a 30-foot front-yard setback, 15-foot side yards and a 35-foot rear yard. West said the proposed foyer would intrude at most about "1 foot 8 inches" for a width of roughly 6 feet; covered porches are allowed to encroach but enclosed living space is not, so the board's approval was required.

The applicant, Marie Armstrong, who identified herself as the homeowner at 203 Albea Court NE, described the practical limits of the existing entry: "When we began designing the expansion of our split level home, the goal was to create a space that supports our family," she said, adding that the current entry prevents fully opening the front door or getting luggage into the house. Armstrong said she and her husband considered alternatives but that the lot's cul-de-sac geometry and the steep front slope (the property borders Hilltop) make a rear or side addition impractical without major grading or tree removal. "We're really just kind of doing that little bump out," she said, characterizing the proposal as a modest, functional change.

Tad Davidovich of Hinsdale Design Build, the project builder, described technical constraints the team evaluated and cited recent storm runoff from nearby hills as a reason a rear expansion would aggravate drainage problems. He summarized the encroachment as uneven because the block radius follows the cul-de-sac curve: "It's about 7 or 8 inches on the left side, and the right side's about 1 foot 8," he said.

Committee member (mover) argued the lot's orientation toward the cul-de-sac and the arc of the sidewalk created a unique hardship that distinguishes this property from others. "If that sidewalk weren't at such an extreme arc, there'd be no need for a variance," the mover said, describing the requested intrusion as "diminimus." A colleague seconded the motion. The board then voted with all present members saying "aye," and the Chair announced the motion carries and the application will be granted.

The board recorded no conditions beyond standard permitting requirements. The zoning administrator had earlier told members that an appeal of the board's decision may be filed with the Fairfax County Circuit Court within 30 days.

The board's packet for the case included a site plat, existing and proposed floor plans and elevations, and photos; West showed those materials at the meeting and highlighted the portion of the foyer requiring the variance. The record shows the property is zoned RS-12.5 (single-family detached residential).