Those wanting a taller fence in the city better have a good reason in hand when they come to the Board of Adjustment for a variance, as two northeast Austinites learned Monday. Josh Washman told the board that he and his girlfriend, homeowner Bridgette Berkes, wanted to maintain their 8-foot fence at 7504 Creston Lane […]
City of Austin Board of Adjustment
The city’s Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body that decides on variances, special exceptions and can issue interpretations of code.
Posted inLand Development Code
BoA backs city in ‘structural trellis’ case
A bid to change the way the city allows homes to be attached to each other fell short at the Board of Adjustment’s most recent meeting, despite widespread skepticism toward the central idea that an arbor is a “structural element.” The South Lamar Neighborhood Association asked the board to weigh in on a staff interpretation […]
Posted inPreservation
Historic zoning debate reaches new heights at BoA
Are brand-new houses just as eligible for historic zoning as older homes? The answer may not surprise you: No, they are not. The fact that this question was the subject of a half-hour discussion at the Board of Adjustment, however, is worthy of notice. At the heart of the discussion was an unusual variance granted […]
Posted inThe Code, Uncategorized
BoA postpones interpretation case, disappoints developer
During a special called meeting on Nov. 21, the Board of Adjustment voted to postpone an interpretation case to its next meeting on Dec. 12. Leah Bojo, a senior manager at Drenner Group representing PSW Real Estate, cried “No!” from the audience as Chair William Burkhardt announced that there was time left only to make […]
Posted inPlanning
BoA votes to protect ‘compatibility to nothing’
A recent Board of Adjustment variance case proved that sometimes rules are rules, even absent the reasons they were put in place. William Faust, representing applicant Greg Smith before the board, explained that a small, vacant tract of residentially zoned land was preventing them from moving forward with their plans for development, because of compatibility […]
Posted inLand Development Code
BoA shoots down East Austin variance cluster
At the Board of Adjustment’s most recent meeting, the specters of short-term rentals and the Jumpolin piñata store did no favors for a group seeking variances in East Austin. Chris French, who identified himself as the homeowner’s brother, explained that they were seeking variances for the property at 206 San Marcos St. He said the […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Two-year permit puzzle continued at the BoA
It’s back to the drawing board for some Lake Austin homeowners who have yet to move into the home they purchased in 2014. Armbrust & Brown’s Eric DeYoung represented the owners, Stone Park Trust, at the Board of Adjustment meeting earlier this month in an attempt to solve the impervious cover and permit problems at […]
Posted inLand Development Code
No special exceptions for East Austin special exception
Angry neighbors were no match for strange coincidences at the Board of Adjustment earlier this month. Nanette DiNunzio was seeking a special exception that would allow her to retain her garage, which – because it is in the 5-foot setback – would not normally be compliant with city code. She argued that a special exception […]
Posted inZoning
Playground plan stalls at BoA
Although those hoping for a playground at Club Creek Apartments will get another shot at a variance next month, it’s not looking promising. Laura Klein spoke on behalf of the apartment complex’s owner, PPA Group, at the Board of Adjustment meeting on Monday. At the moment, the apartment complex at 502 West Longspur Boulevard is […]
Posted inDevelopment
New plan fails to impress in the wake of unapproved East Austin demolition
Almost two years later, one East Austin homeowner is back at the Board of Adjustment asking for a variance redo, with a promise to reconstruct the demolished home it had promised to preserve. At this point, owner 2100 E. 14 Ventures LLC is seeking a variance for the property at 2100 E. 14th St. to […]
Posted inPlanning
East Seventh bar plan goes south at BoA
It appears that the dream of another east side bar may be over, after Board of Adjustment members definitively shot down a request at their last meeting for reduced parking. Currently, the building at 1309 E. Seventh St. has room for only four parking spaces, which is less than the nine required once parking reductions […]
Posted inPlanning
Board of Adjustment opts not to consider neighbor’s belated complaints
Given unclear rules, misgivings about precedent and a huge stack of papers to wade through, the Board of Adjustment voted to reject a neighbor’s appeal of someone else’s variance at its last meeting. Lotte Vehko John Mayes was asking for a reconsideration of the variance granted to his neighbors, Sara and William Bircher, at the board’s […]