Board of Zoning Appeals Minutes

CALL TO ORDER:

Commissioner Stapleton called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

ROLL CALL:
Commissioners:
Present: Rolland Stapleton Eugene Lawrie
James Haveraneck
Connie Cronin
Bill Lokey
Chris Gazlay
Carol Maise
Charles Ayers

Absent: James Bress - excu.
Luke Durst - excu
John Rae– excu.

Also Present: Gary Word – City Manager

Motion by Gazlay, supported by Cronin to approve the agenda. Voice Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None

MINUTES:

Motion by Lawrie, supported by Cronin to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 5, 2002. Voice Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion Unanimously Carried.

Imagine Restoration – Mr. Carlos

1814 Tyler Road

Northville, Michigan 48167

The applicant who resides at 741 Grace St. requests a variance from Sec. 3.04, side yard setback. He is requesting a variance of 4’, from the required 7’ setback. The applicant is requesting to be allowed to build the proposed building three feet from the south property line. Grounds for appeal: Undue Hardship

The applicant stated that he recently moved to Northville from Troy because of the school district, the ambience of the community and the small town atmosphere. He now wishes to enlarge his home to the south. A porch to the south is planned so that the family can enjoy the children’s activities in the adjacent vacant lot. He stated that he intends to preserve the present arts and crafts style house and keep the addition to the era in which is was built. Changes etc., would be Victorian in nature. The applicant stated that the addition was only financially feasible to the south. The ideas of tearing down the garage and removing the existing driveway on the north, was cost prohibitive. The applicant stated that it is better to encroach to the south side yard with a variance, and keep the lot coverage smaller.

COMMISSIONER COMMNETS AND CONCERNS: With the use of "witches’ hat" in the front, the home is being changed from an Arts and Craft style, to that of a Victorian home. More importantly, the Commissioner’s comments included:

Other options, rather than building to the south, needed to be explored.

Relocating the southern porch to another side of the home.

Provide the feasibility of costs vs. wants.

Convince the commissioners that this option is what works best.

Provide the practical difficulty and the reasoning behind the undo hardship.

Motion by Gazlay, supported by Lawrie to grant the variance for the requested side yard set back of 4’ in the front yard set back of 7’. Motion was withdrawn.

Motion by Haveraneck, supported by Lokey to defer action on the variance until a later date. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Maise, Gazlay, Lawrie, Lokey, Haveraneck, Cronin, Ayers, Stapleton. Nays: None. Motion Unanimously Carried.

City Manager, Gary Word explained recent developments on Dubuar

Motion by Cronin, supported by Maise to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 PM. Voice vote: Ayes: All: Nays: None. Motion Unanimously Carried.

Respectfully submitted,

P S Howard

Recording Secretary