Board approves temporary front-yard shed with removal-on-sale condition

The Washington Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception allowing a portable shed to be placed in front of a residence at the address listed in the packet as "1000 And 6 Maxwell Avenue," granting an 11-foot setback from the property line instead of the required 30 feet and attaching conditions that the building be temporary and removed if the property is sold.

The applicant, who identified herself as Maria, said she had owned the home for 10 years and sought extra storage and play space for three children. "I've owned the home for 10 years," Maria said, explaining that the lot is small and the family needs more usable yard space.

Board members and staff clarified that the request was for a temporary structure and discussed the dimensions; the parties referenced a 10-by-20-foot unit in testimony. The board expressly added conditions: the approval is for a temporary structure only, the unit must be removed if the property transfers, and the approved setback is recorded as 11 feet from the property line.

Neighbor Mike Ramsey spoke in support, telling the board the temporary structure would help screen a nearby unsightly area: "I'm Mike Ramsey. I'm your neighbor to the left...when he put the temporary shed up, he appraised it because it blocked that ugly thing across the street," Ramsey said.

Why it matters: approving a temporary shed in the front yard is uncommon and raised discussion about the potential for a temporary exception to become permanent; the board attached removal-on-sale and temporary-only conditions to limit long-term effects.

The motion to approve, including the conditions, passed on roll call.