Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-16-05-040 — JAMES YANNUCCI

Request: Variances in the R-1AA zoning district as follows: 1) To construct a carport and covered patio in the front of the principal structure in lieu of side or rear yards; 2) To construct a carport 23 ft. from front property line in lieu 30 ft.; and, 3) To construct carport 4 ft. from the side property line in lieu of 7.5 ft.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The applicant proposes to construct a carport and an enclosed front porch into the front yard setback. Staff noted that due to the fact that a very small amount of the lot is actually high and dry, the home was built as far forward as possible to retain as much usable rear yard as possible. Also, due to the way the house is positioned, the house is designed slightly to the west. This construction is causing the need for the side yard setback. Had the house been built perpendicular to the side lot lines, no side yard variance would have been needed. The front setback variance only amounts to a twenty-three percent (23%) reduction, which is well within the range of past variances granted by the BZA. The BZA concluded that due to the shallowness of the usable portion of the lot, the orientation of the house on the lot, and the interior alterations performed by a previous owner, the variance was not self-imposed nor were they requesting any special privilege. The variance was considered reasonable.