Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-04-08-204 — Randy Audette

Request: Variances in R-1 (single family-5,000 sq. ft. lots) zone to allow a detached accessory building for storage purposes to remain as follows: 1) 740 cumulative sq. ft. in lieu of 701 sq. ft.; and 2) Allow steel metal construction type in lieu of materials commonly used throughout Orange County in single-family residential construction, such as stucco, brick, vinyl, aluminum or wood for the siding or walls, and shingles, tiles or corrugated metal for the roof. (NOTE: Applicant is currently in Code Enforcement violation).

Decision: Denied

Hearing: The applicant is asking for two detached accessory buildings to remain with cumulative square footage of 740 sq. ft. in lieu of 701 sq. ft. and to allow one of the buildings to remain in non-compliance with the recent code amendment addressing architectural design standards for detached accessory buildings in residential zoning districts. Currently, the applicant is in code violation. Violations were issued for a business being operated, storage of equipment, and storage of dual rear wheel vehicles on the subject property. Staff presented photographs depicting the use and architectural design of the buildings. A neighboring property owner appeared in opposition complaining about heavy commercial truck traffic coming to and from the property. Due to the recent history of the property, the BZA felt there was no justification for deviating from the design standards and that the storage facilities lacked merit because they are being used for commercial storage purposes. BZA, therefore, denied the request.