The Irving City Council on April 16 unanimously denied a requested variance for an accessory structure at 406 Charles Drive, finding the applicant did not demonstrate an unnecessary hardship.
During the public hearing, council members and neighbors questioned whether the structure was on a concrete slab and whether it was anchored. The applicant (identified in the record as a meeting participant) stated the structure sits on a wood base and is "just a storage room" with no plumbing or electrical connections. Councilmember Mark moved to deny the variance, saying staff’s recommendation that no unnecessary hardship had been demonstrated was persuasive. The motion was seconded and carried with a unanimous vote.
Councilmembers discussed the practical difficulty of moving the structure: one councilmember observed the structure may require heavy equipment to relocate and voiced concerns about damaging the foundation if attempts were made to drag it. The mayor and staff said the applicant could move the structure three feet to meet setback requirements and urged staff to speak with her to ensure she understood next steps. No formal appeal or mitigation timeline was recorded at the meeting.