Board allows asphalt surfacing for extra parking at Blind Pass office after safety and accessibility testimony

The Board of Adjustment approved a request from the owners of 8351 Blind Pass Road to repave and expand a parking lot with asphalt, overriding a local standard that requires parking spaces beyond the minimum to be constructed of turf block or grass.

Staff told the board that the site meets impervious-surface limits and that converting the existing parking to asphalt would not change the permitted impervious area; nevertheless, the land-development code requires excess spaces be pervious. Staff said the applicant had supported six of eight variance criteria and asked for additional testimony on hardship of the land and whether the relief sought was the minimum necessary.

Agent Trey Wear and owner Dr. Britney of Pure Dental testified that the existing turf-block and mixed surfaces are difficult for older patients, wheelchairs and walkers; Dr. Britney recounted a recent fall in the turf-block area. The applicants argued that full asphalt would improve safety and allow installation of curbs to control drainage, and said they would accept staff-recommended mitigations (an as-built survey, demonstration that the asphalt will not cause adverse stormwater impacts to the adjacent residential property, and making four interior spaces compact to permit additional frontage landscaping).

The board required a condition that the applicant demonstrate at permitting that asphalt will not cause adverse impacts to the neighboring residential property to the east and that curbs or similar measures be used to direct stormwater away from neighbors. With those conditions and the compact-space/landscaping trade, the board voted unanimously to approve the variance (Members Small, Schmidt, Vice Chair Core, Member Kunzer and Chair Chase all voted yes).

Staff will require an approved as-built survey at permit closeout and proofs that drainage will be properly managed before issuing final approval.