Board denies request to allow gravel as permanent parking at 1405 OMB Drive

The Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request to accept gravel as an acceptable permanent parking surface at 1405 OMB Drive, a heavy industrial site where a stop-work order had been issued.

Hayes Brewer of Oakley Real Estate Partners told the board his firm bought the property in poor condition and sought to improve it, saying, "We received a stop work order in February... the only improvements we've done after working with staff is we added the landscape strip and the trees" (Speaker 10). He said much of the gravel preexisted the purchase but acknowledged the firm added gravel to bring the site into a leasable condition.

Commissioners repeatedly stressed that gravel as a permanent parking surface raises concerns about stormwater, maintenance and precedent; one commissioner noted recent denials of similar requests in the city. After discussion the board made and seconded a motion to deny the variance; the chair announced the board denied the request. The applicant was told he can remedy noncompliant gravel by paving the area or otherwise bringing the property into conformance, which would remove the need to return to the board.