Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-16-06-053 — STEVEN KATSIKIS

Request: Variances in the R-CE zoning district to enclose existing carport on a substandard lot as follows: 1) 75 ft. of lot width in lieu of 130 ft.; 2) .278 ac. of lot area in lieu of 1 ac.; and, 3) Side (east) setback of 0 ft. in lieu of 10 ft. (Note: The applicant is converting an existing carport which is enclosed on three sides into a new master bedroom. The neighbor to the east has provided a letter of no objection.)

Decision: Approved

Hearing: Staff explained that the applicant's house had been built in 1952, exactly where it is currently located. As such, the hardship is not self imposed. The only exterior work is enclosing the opening to the carport. After that, all work will be interior alteration to create a master bedroom. The current living area is very substandard, so the new room will help to reduce the degree of nonconformity. There will be no change to the footprint of the home. The applicants declined to speak, indicating their acceptance of the staff recommendations. There being no one in attendance to speak in favor or opposition to the request, the public hearing was closed. The Board found that there was no real option to allow the applicant to make the desired improvements. The request is not self-imposed given that the house predates zoning in Orange County. A motion to recommend approval was approved, with one (1) member abstaining due to their absence during most of the discussion.