Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-00-02-009 — Chuck Bell & Dwayne Dugas

Request: Variance in R-1A zone to expand existing carport 2.83 ft. from side property line in lieu of 7.5 ft.

Decision: Denied

Hearing: The applicant stated they have two cars but only a single car carport. It is not safe to park on the street. They currently park the car along side the driveway in the grass. They want to get the car off the grass and under cover. They don't want to double park in the driveway. Staff pointed out that all the homes along this stretch of Osceola are built in the same manner as the applicants' home. All have single car carports and/or garages. Many have more than one vehicle. Those residents accommodate their vehicles by either double parking in the driveway, or park in areas of the yard close to the house. It was noted that the applicant's next door neighbor had an aesthetically-pleasing bricked parking space extending off the driveway into the front yard. It was suggested that this type of setup would be a more practical solution than encroaching into the side yard setback. It was further pointed out that in addition to the pole of the carport at 2.8 ft. from the side lot line, the construction plans revealed the eave would encroach an additional 1 1/2 ft., which would create greater problems with respect to the drainage onto the next door neighbor's property. Approval of this variance request would set a precedent for the other homeowners along Osceola Avenue to request the same type of variance. Further, it would give the applicant's an unfair advantage over those homeowners. The BZA also noted that a potential fire hazard may result, especially if side-to-side neighbors both wanted variances. There was no public opposition received on this request.