Board approves variance for garage addition at Lake Lorraine property despite staff recommendation

The Jefferson County board approved a variance allowing a homeowner to build an attached garage 15 feet from the rear property line at 8430 West Shore, a lakefront lot in the Lake Lorraine neighborhood.

Staff recommended denial. Staff presented the case, noting the property is zoned R-10, is just under an acre, and that the county Unified Development Order (UDO) requires a 30-foot rear-yard setback. "So based on the analysis, staff does recommend denial of the request, to reduce the 30 foot rear yard setback to 15 feet," the staff member said during the presentation.

Neighbors and the property owners' association supported the proposal. Caleb Brown, an adjacent property owner who said he had been sworn in, told the board the Lake Lorraine Property Owners Association and the neighborhood had approved the proposed structure: "They approve the structure, yeah," he said, and confirmed that notifications to neighbors were sent.

During deliberations, one board member noted the house's existing corner sits about 23.69 feet from the property line and said it would be difficult to attach a conforming garage given the house's current placement; that member voiced support for the variance: "I'm gonna be a yes on this one." The board then voted by voice and the chair announced the motion carried.

The petitioner thanked the board after the approval. The transcript does not record additional conditions attached to the approval or the exact vote tally beyond recorded ayes and the chair's announcement that the motion carried.

What happens next: The board completed other business and adjourned; the filing, permit revisions or recorded order related to ZB26005 were not described in the transcript.