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AboutMinutesTheBoardofAdjustments&AppealsmetMonday,August19,2002at5:00PMattheCityAdministrationBuilding,intheCouncilChambers.Present:SusanCunningham,Vice-Chairman;CharlesBassett,CharlesSenior,LouisAgee,members.ChristopherBaker,ErikCortinas,BuildingDepartment;BettyRivenbark,SecretaryAbsent:BobMannich,BernieFogartyTheminutesoftheJuly15,2002meetingwereconsideredanddulyapprovedonmotionbyCharlesBassett,2byLouisAgeeandunanimouslycarried.ZBAO2.1OPublichearingtoconsidertherequestofTonyChaversfora2’9”buildingheightvarianceat210FelsAvenue.Mr.BakerhadwrittenthatMr.Chavershassubmittedplanstobuildanewhouseat210FelsAvenueinaR-2districtandtheheightlimitationis30’.Hisrecommendationwastodenyasthereisnoinherentcharacteristicofthepropertythatwillnotallowtheapplicanttofulfilltherequirementsoftheregulations.Mr.Chaversaddressedtheboardandpresentedalistofsignaturesofpeopleintheneighborhoodwhodidnotobjecttowhatheisproposingtodo.Healsoshowedpicturesofhomesintheneighborhoodatvaryingheights.Hesaidheisonehalfblockfromthebusinessdistrictandwhatheisproposingwillfitinwiththeneighborhood.Hesaidthepurposeofhisrequestistoputadecentpitchonthetwostoryhousesoitwilldrain.Thechairmanaskediftherewasanyonefor/againstitandaresidentLydiaMyersspokesayingshewasforit.FurtherdiscussionledtoamotionbyCharlesSeniortodenythevariancerequestasthereisnotenoughhardshipinthecase.LouisAgee2themotionanditcarriedunanimously.ZBAO2.1IPublichearingtoconsidertherequestofJamesandMeganConwellfora5footsideyardvarianceat306BLibertyStreet.Mr.Bakerinhiscommentssaidtheselotswererecentlyapprovedandplattedandstrictinterpretationdoescreateaself-imposedhardship.However,asidefromthelackofspacefora15’drivewaysidesetback,allothersetbackandzoningrequirementsareincompliance.Hesaidfurtherthattheonlypropertythatwillbeaffectedwillbetheadjacentpropertyandthiswouldcreatelittleornoimpacttothesurroundingresidences.Megan’sfatherspoketotheboardsayingthatbecauseofadrainageeasementtheycannotputthedrivewaywheretheywantedtoandthatanotherdaughterownsthepropertynextdoorandshehasnoobjection.Nooneofferedanycomment.LouisAgeemovedtoapprovethisvarianceasrequested.CharlieBassett2themotionanditcarriedunanimously.ZBAO2.12PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofSheilaPompey-Ratliffforabuildingheightvarianceat14DentonLane.Ms.Pompey-Ratlifflivesoutoftownandwasnotpresenttopresenthercase.ErikCortinasreadthestaffrecommendationtotheboardsayingthatthisisanothercaseofFEMArequirements.SheislocatedinaV15floodzone.ThatintheconsultingwithBaldwinandMobileCountytheyhaveconsistentlyinterpretedtheregulationsinsuchawayastonotincludetherequiredfloodzoneelevationintheoverallbuildingheightmeasurement.Allbutoneofthe BoardofAdjustments&AppealsAugust19,2002-Pagetwojurisdictionsbegintheheightmeasurementattheloweststructuralmember(beamorgirder)inordernottopenalizetheapplicantforheighttheyarerequiredtoinclude.Staffrecommendationwastoapprovetheapplicationwiththestipulationthatthestructureasmeasuredfromtheloweststructuralmembertotheuppermostroofpeakdoesnotexceedtheallowableheightof30’.CommentswerecalledforandamotionwasmadebyCharlieBassetttoapprovewiththestipulationMr.Cortinascalledfor.LouisAgee2themotionanditcarriedunanimously.ZBAO2.13PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofRalphReynoldsforavariancefromtheFEMAfloodzoneregulatoryrequirementsat17747ScenicHighway98,PointClear,AL.LeaVerneuille,anarchitectrepresentingMr.Reynoldswaspresenttonighttotalktotheboardaboutthiscase.ItisalsooneregardingFEMAfloodzonerequirements.MrBaker’srecommendationwastodenybecauseaccordingtotheplanspresentedtheworkthatisproposedwouldconstitutemorethan50%improvementandalterationtothestructure(whichwouldchangehistoriccharacter)Mr.Vemeuille,inhispresentationsaidtheyaretryingtopreservethehistoriccharacterofthehouseandalsoarguedthathesubmittedhisapplicationbeforethenewFEMAlawstookeffectonJune17,2002,soiftheymustcomplytheyarereconciledtogoing7.6’ratherthanthenewlawof9.6’.Hepresentedacopyofaletterfromthepreviousownerwhohadstatedthatnowaterhascomeintothehomefromanyhurricanesincetheirpurchaseintheearly1900’sandasitsitstodayitis3.4ftoutoftheground.Healsostatedthatthehomeisindisrepairwhichisthewhyhisplansareover50%improvement.TherewasmuchdiscussionaboutthisbeinghistoricstructureandLeareadexcerptaboutwhatstaterequirementsareforhistoricstructureandletterhehadreceivedfromhistoriccommitteeofPointClearsayingthathefeelsitmeetsthecriteria.EnforcingFEMAguidelineswasalsotalkedaboutandwhatcouldhappenifwedon’tadheretothese.ChristopherBakersaidthefederalgovernmentoffersfloodinsuranceandalsoprovidesFEMAmaps,thatthemunicipalityhastoparticipatewhichinvolvescheckinghomeownerplans-thisistiedtogether.ErikpointedoutthatthecityhadanddiduseFEMAnewguidelinesevenbeforetheywereadoptedinJune.FurtherdiscussionledtoamotionbyCharlesSeniortotablefor30daystoseeifLeacouldgetaletterfromthehistoriccommissionandsatisfyFEMAasfarasgettingavariancethatwouldallowtheFEMArequirementsbeforeJune17th•CharlieBassett2andmotioncarriedunanimously.ZBAO2.14PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofRobertandJanaBrownforavariancetointrude12’beyondtherearsetbacklineat115OakStreet.Mrs.Brownaddressedtheboardsayingthatsheandherhusbandfirstrentedat116OakStreetanddecidedthattheywishedtostayinFairhopeandraisetheirfamilyheresowhen115cameupforsaletheypurchasedthepropertyandaskedLeaVemuilletodrawplans.Leaspoketotheboardsayingtheyaretryingtosavetwotreasuredtreesontheproperty,hepresenteddrawingsandaletterfromtheTreeCommitteeregardinghis BoardofAdjustments&AppealsAugust19,2002-PagethreeVrequest.HesaidhewalkedthepropertywithTomEllisandJackieFrodshamoftheTreeCommitteeandthisdesignwouldsavethetreesandstillaccommodatetheirgrowingfamily.Hesaidtheywantedtostaywithintheconfinesoftheneighborhood,whatalreadythere.Thathedesignedthehousewithonestoryinthefrontandtwostorystretchingtotherearbuttheywouldneedavarianceontherearextension.Itwasalsopointedoutthatthereisashednowthatextendsbeyondthispointtothealley.Mr.Bakerhadrecommendedapprovalasitisinthepublicinteresttopreservethetreesanditwouldseemthiscanbedonewhileprotectingthecharacterofboththeneighborhoodandthepropertyinquestion.Commentswerecalledfor.AmotionwasmadebyCharlieBassetttoapprovevariancerequest,CharlesSenior2ndthemotionanditcarriedunanimously.BAO2.15PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofClayAdamslWaltBoltonforanAdministrativeAppealtoallowa1275sqft2storyaccessorybuildinglocatedat115FelsAvenue.ClayaddressedtheboardforWaltBolton,thepropertyowner,hesaidMr.Boltonwishedtoconstructadetachedaccessorybuilding,agarage.Thatthepropertycontainsaonestoryhouse1275feetandthedetachedstructurewouldcontaina1213sqfttwostorygaragelcarportwhichwouldhaveanobservationtowerbeing30’tall.Mr.Bakercommentedabuildingpermithadbeendeniedforthisstructureasaccessorybuildingsaretobeincidentaltotheprimaryuse.Thatthisstructurewouldonlybe62sqftdifferenceandthisbuilding2story,houseIstory.Inhisrecommendationhesaidinthebuildingregulationsaswritten’nowitcouldbeinterpretedtoallowthisstructurehowever,itwasdeniedbecausethisrepresentsabigchangetotheneighborhoodandhewantedtheneighborswhowouldbeimpactedtohaveadvanceknowledge.Commentswerecalledforandaneighborwithin300ft.saidhehadnoobjectiontoproposal.CharlieBassettmovedtoallowtowertobebuiltastherewasnoonewhoshoweduptoobject.LouisAgee2themotionanditcarriedunanimously.BAO2.16PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofBayVentures,LLCforanAdministrativeAppealonpropertylocatedatFelsandBayview.DennisFrodshamspokeonbehalfofBayVentures,sayingheandBillCarriganarepurchasingthepropertywhereBayviewFuneralHomeisnowlocated.ThepropertyiszonedR2SingleFamilyandwassubdividedintocolonylotsizesandplattedin1911.Theappealisregardingoneofthelotsthatwasalteredin1925whenaportionofthepropertywasgrantedtoanadjacentlot.Thislotbeing44’X132’andisinquestiontonightbecauseitwasneverproperlyrecorded.Mr.Bakerhadcommentedthatthezoningordinancerecognizessubstandardlotthatcanbebuiltonof4,000sqft.Provideditisonsewerandthislotmeetsthisrequirement.AccordingtoMr.Frodshamthislotwasusedresidentiallyuntil1979andwithpurchaseBayVenturesisseekingtoconvertpropertybackintoresidentiallotsandseekingforthistoberecognizedalotofrecord.Mr.Bakerrelatedthecolonyhistoryandsaidthatallcodestiedtothepropertylinesanda BoardofAdjustments&AppealsAugust19,2002-Pagefourcolonyleaseholdnotalwaysthesamething.TheZoningOrdinanceallowslotsofrecord,5arerecorded,theoneinquestionisnot.Dennissaidtheyarewantingtogobacktoresidential,smallerhousesinsmallneighborhood.Thereisampleprecedentinrecognizingthis.Mr.Frodshamwasaskedwhattheyareproposingandhedescribeditsayingtheywillhaveacommonalley,3facingFelsand3anotherway.Erikpointedoutthattheywouldhavetobuildwithinexistingfootprint.ADanHerzogspokesayingthisisspeculativesituationseemsnottherightthingtodo.CharlesBassettsaiditseemedwewereonlyrecognizinglotlinesthatthetaxassessoralreadyrecognizes.Dennissaidhehadatitlecompanyresearchthis.CharlesSeniormovedtoapproveapplicant’sappeal.LouisAgee2rdthemotionanditcarriedunanimously.BAO2.17PublichearingtoconsidertherequestofDaltonHeadforanAdministrativeAppealtorecognizeasubstandardlotasalotofrecordlocatedatLibertyStandMorphyAve.Mr.HeadspoketotheBoardsayingheholdstheleaseonthepropertyatthecornerofLibertyandMorphyanditiszonedR2.Thatthispropertywasatonetime2lotsofrecord.However,in1958thepropertycamebeforetheZBAtomoveapropertylineandwasapproved.Thisactionchangedthelotsfrom2colonylotstoIlotthatis74X132andtheother60X132.Mr.Headsayshehasnoplanstobuildonthislotbutdoeswanttorecognizeactionof1958.Hesaidthereisaconcretepostthatseparatesthetwolotsandaparkingstructuresitsonthelotline.ChristopherhadremarkedthateventhoughthiswasapprovedbytheAdjustmentsBoardin1958ithadneverbeenproperlyrecorded.SincethealterationofthepropertylineswasnotrecordedMr.Bakerfelthecouldnothonoritwithoutahearing.ThattheconversionofthepropertyfromIlargeparcelwith1houseto2lotswouldbeadrasticchangetotheneighborhoodandwarrantedpublicnoticeandconsideration.Mr.Bakersaidfurtherthattherearesomebuildingswheretheproposedpropertylineruns.Thatifapprovedthenallbuildingsshouldmeetthesetbackrequirementsandtheseareaccessorybuildingsandshouldbeatleast5’fromthepropertylines.InhisrecommendationhesaidtheAdjustmentBoardhasthepowertorecognizethe2lotsasbuildable.FurtherdiscussionledtoamotionbyCharlieBassetttogranttheadministrativeappealrecognizingthisastwobuildablelotsasdonein1958.LouisAgee2ndthemotionanditcarriedunanimously.BA.02.19Directiontostaffregardingaccessorybuildingpolicy.Mr.BakerhadpresentedcommentsandsaidthattheaccessorybuildingprovisionsoftheZoningOrdinancecanbeconfusingandopentomuchinterpretation.Inordertopreventissuesarisinginthefutureaboutinterpretationandsostaffunderstandtheparametersregardingaccessorybuilding,heisaskingforinputontheattachedpolicy.HehadattachedexistingregulationsandsaidhehadmetwithBobMannichandasaresulthadaproposalofanaccessorybuildingpolicythathewishedtheboardtoadopt.FurtherdiscussionledtoamotionbyLouisAgeetoadopt,CharlieBassett2ndandmotioncarriedunanimously. BoardofAdjustments&AppealsAugust19,2002-PagefivePolicyasfollows:1.Anyaccessorybuildingmayhaveonlyahalf-bath.2.Kitchensandelectricalwiringorgassupportingkitchenswillnotbepermitted.3.Anyaccessorybuildingmaynotbetallerthantheprimarystructure.4.Anyaccessorybuildingthatisaproposedofficeorextrabedroommaynotbelargerthan50%ofthegrosssquarefootageoftheprincipalstructure.5.Anyutilitiesforanyaccessorybuildingmustberunthroughtheprincipalstructure6.Any“bonafide”mother-in-lawsuitewithakitchenmustbeattachedtotheprimarystructure.Further,thatadecisionbystaffmaybeappealedtotheZoningBoardofAdjustment.Therebeingnofurtherbusiness,meetingwasdulyadjourned.