Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-01-05-035 — Gary M. Wolfe

Request: Variance in R-1A zone to erect additions (renovate garage and expand living area) 21 ft. from front property line in lieu of 25 ft.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The property is in the Winter Park Pines Subdivision. The applicant is moving his elderly mother in to live with him and his wife. They need to expand the house to add a bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area for the mother. Also, the applicant needs to renovate his garage due to the internal changes resulting from the addition. The end result is a four foot encroachment into the front yard setback. The applicant indicated he would have built the addition at the rear yard, but the existence of a swimming pool back there prohibited such expansion. Staff indicated this was a minimum variance with very little impact to neighbors. Further, there is still sufficient room for parking within the driveway without encroaching into the sidewalk. Five letters in favor were submitted, two of which were from the property owners on each side of the applicant's lot. One person spoke with concern. He was concerned about the precedent this would set, and where the BZA would "draw the line" for other requests that may be greater than the applicant's. The BZA district representative explained to the concerned party that each case is determined based on its own merits, and that special circumstances are taken into consideration.