Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-03-04-034 — Pedro Barclay

Request: Variance in R-2 (residential 1-4 unit structures) zone to operate a community residential home 160 ft. from another community residential home to the east in lieu of 1,000 ft.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The applicant wants to open another community residential home within 1000 feet of an existing community residential home. Staff advised the BZA of the purpose of the distance separation requirement. Staff concluded the request was based on personal convenience rather than a valid hardship on the land. The applicant advised the BZA he had a license at this same location last year but the State of Florida cancelled his license due to procedural issues. When he re-applied for the license, the State informed him of the distance requirement. A neighbor spoke at the hearing. He thought the applicant was building a new building. He indicated the applicant's previous group home did not disrupt the neighborhood. The BZA concluded the applicant operated at this same location in the past without any problems and was providing a service to the community.