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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.boa.19930902 CITY OF ASPEN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEPTEMBER 2, 1993 4:00 P.M. SECOND FLOOR MEETING ROOM A G E N D A I. CASE #93-10 CHARIF SOURI (CONTINUED FROM AUGUST 12, 1993) II. CASE #93-13 THOMAS AND SUSAN HILB III. CASE #93-14 DIANE HEDDON IV. MINUTES JULY 15, 1993 AUGUST 5, 1993 V. ADJOURN RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEPTEMBER 2, 1993 Chairman Remo Lavagnino called meeting to order at 4 : 00 P.M. Answering roll call were Howard DeLuca, Bill Martin, Ron Erickson, Rick Head, Charlie Paterson and Remo Lavagnino. CASE #93-10 CHARIF SOUKI Remo read request for variance . (attached in record) The recording tape was totally inaudible to-- ? : Given the nature of the property that is the physical--the trees and this home will be separated physically by a great enough distance that those people will be protected from the visual impact that they are concerned about while at the same time allowing us to stay out of the avalanche path. Remo : So you are within the side yard setbacks which would affect them. So whether they were 100 feet or 70 feet or 20 feet, the side yard setbacks have been maintained. ? : That ' s correct . Howard: When he purchased the property he was assuming the variance was going to go through? ? : No. We have an option to purchase the property. If the variance doesn' t go through then we have to re-evaluate what can be done with the property. But given everything we have looked at in terms of the engineers and in terms of the design of the home for anybody to buy this property they are going to want to get it as far from the avalanche path as possible . Remo : Do you have anything that the engineers--a statement from the engineers? ? : I have with me the report which I am happy to submit to you that was prepared by our engineers regarding the avalanche dangers on the property. This was done for Mr. Barker when he owned the property. I have spoken to Mr. Meers recently and he told me there isn' t any reason that that report would be any different at the present time . The engineering reports are all part of the public record and I can submit those with respect to the 8040 Greenline application. But I felt Mr. Meers ' s report was what was dealing with this particular area that we were concerned about as the potential for avalanche . BAM 9-. 2 . 9 3 (report attached in record) Remo asked for comment from the public . Bob Hughes : I represent Thomas Coleman who owns the other half of the condominium on Lot #4 Hoag Subdivision. In addition to the things that have been read into the record, which we endorse as well, I guess the one thing I have difficulty with is you folks need to make 3 separate findings not the least of which is the one that says the variance granted has to be a minimum variance that allows for the reasonable use of the land. What is going on here is you have got a house that is massively sized. And I am not convinced that this is a minimum variance that is being requested. one that will accommodate a very, very large home . And I think we need to face the realities of this particular site . I don' t disagree that it has got some real constraints . But I think given those constraints you have to have a house that is sized accordingly, not one that does violence to the setbacks and things that are established for valid planning purposes . When Brooke responded to the issue of the side yard setbacks the fact of the matter is this will slide the home east . Which is considerably 170 feet further east which is 70 feet closer although on an up and down level it is the same thing but does slide 70 feet closer to my client ' s property. And will have a negative effect to that extent . And I think what also may be going on here is the fact that moving the house this much further east while you may be moving it as far away from the avalanche path as possible, you are also for the convenience of the property owner if you will, making a road cut far longer. And that is sort of an economic thing. I don' t think that has ever been the kind of consideration you folks determine as basis for granting a variance . But I think where the application is deficient is I haven' t seen any kind of evidence that this is the minimum variance that will allow the reasonable use of the property. I think the reasonable use of this property is a much smaller home . Remo: You have to remember that the minimum variance is applicable only to the setback. His FAR is his by right and I don' t think- -they are not coming before us to get a variance from their FAR. They are coming to us for a front yard setback variance . Hughes : What they are asking to do--he has a certain FAR that he is entitled to. But in order to avail himself of that he has to get a considerable variance from the front yard setback. I don' t think there is anything that is etched in stone that gives a guy a constitutional right to have massive FAR when to do so is the 2 BAM9 . 2 . 93 violence to setbacks . John Worcester, City Attorney: Your determination initially is what is consistent with the code and what is consistent with the Area Comprehensive Plan. Remo: So what you are telling us that we can modify his FAR in granting him this variance if we thought that it was-- Worcester: You can place conditions on it, yes . Rick: I can help from a historical perspective on this . Notwithstanding the fact that I am not hearing this thing I have been following this with some interest for years . The Planning Office-- Remo : For the record Rick has a conflict of interest and he won' t be voting on this particular case . So his comments are with that in mind. Rick: This property is zoned Conservation. There is no FAR calculation in that zone . They could build as large a house as they would want--15, 000 , 20, 000 square feet if they so chose . Barker and Zaluba voluntarily limited the size of the house to approximately 5, 000 square feet which they felt was modest . With respect to the access road there is already an access road cut in there that actually circumvents the whole property. They are trying to minimize the road cut and the destruction of vegetation in there by keeping the property sited where it is presently in their request for a variance . Huges : Isn' t that road cut the one that is the continuation of the Nordic Trail? Rick: No . It is not . It actually goes up and switches back, comes around to the back of the property above . And they were going to use that for construction purposes and have agreed to re- vegetate that road when the house is finished. Hughes : I think it is commendable that they have an FAR as big as all outdoors . But one man' s modest size is another man' s excess size and I think this is too big a house for this site . Rick: This Board is not hearing a request for variance-- Hughes : But it is entitled to consider a minimum ratio. Remo : I would use that as a consideration and possibly if the Board feels that this should be granted that we set limits as to the house as it exists or as it is being presented to us so that 3 BAM9 . 2 . 93 if it is 5, 000 square feet that we put a condition on it that it not grow beyond that for reasons of safety, welfare, avalanche, tree cutting, neighbors viewplane--all of those reasons . Is your client ' s property observing 100 foot setback? Hughes : I don' t know. Remo: The reason I am asking is that you said by lowering this property below the 100 foot setback it would be impacting your client ' s property more . Hughes : What I am say is the effect of granting this request is going to move the Souki house 71 feet that much further to the east and my client ' s property lies to the east of Lot #3 so it would be moving it that much closer. Remo: The setback is maintained so I don' t understand--I know the setback between your properties are the same . They have not violated the setback between the properties . Hughes : Not between the setbacks . They want to move the whole house 70 feet closer to my client ' s property. (discussion over map) Rick: We have one lot which is the Souki lot in the City. The Newfoundland lot is in the County. The two joint Planning Offices determined that the best way to handle these two lots was to keep them clustered as close together as possible so that there was as little vegetation disruption as possible and with a mutual driveway and access so that there was as little impact on visual vegetation disruption with that as possible . Hughes : How do we know that? Rick: The County Planning Office has already approved the building envelope which is no more than 30 feet from this property line . They decided that the best place that these people were going to have 2 lots they wanted to have them as close together as possible . Hughes : Do we have evidence of that? Rick: You can get Stan Shappart in here who is one of the owners of the Newfoundland lot and he will explain to you very clearly. I think Augie may have some knowledge as to this as well . Their building envelope is immediately adjacent to this property. Peterson: If one goes out and looks at the site right now which I did this morning you will see the story poles for the Newfoundland log house . And you will see how close it is to the 4 BAM9 . 2 . 93 proposed site which is also it ' s flag for this home . They are clustered in effect to try to reduce #1 how far up the hill they go . And secondly to reduce the impacts on the neighbors . They do share a driveway. And they share a common responsibility for maintaining and keeping that driveway clean and not interfering with the Nordic easement . Rick: They even share half of the bond that is being asked to be put up. Peterson: I think the Board needs to recognize that if there is anybody that hasn' t gone out to the site at least recognize the vertical distance between these proposed homes as well as with the existing homes that are there . The vertical distance between probably the Rappaports and the Coleman' s roof is probably 50 or 60 feet . In fact you are really--on the road level--you are at the roof line of the Rappaport Is home . And I think you are fairly close to the roofline of the Coleman' s home and the Frazier' s home . So from a visual impact standpoint I am not sure what they are going to see . Because their view is out across Ute Avenue . it is not back into the side of the hill . Remo asked if there were further comments from the public . There were none and he closed the public portio of the hearing. BOARD COMMENTS Howard: Well, as sorry as I feel for anyone in the area as far as the impact it does seem to me that this is a minimum variance that we could give them to get them out of the avalanche path. If this is true which I assume somebody has checked that this avalanche path really does run where it shows here on the map. I would feel bad if we force them to build in the avalanche path and then there was an avalanche . I have been up there and, yes, the visual impact from the people down below is about minimum. Brooke is right . The rooflines of those houses is about at the base of the house above them so looking out the back window they are not going to see a whole lot . So I would have to lean towards giving them the variance . Bill : I have the same sentiment that Howard has . I hate to leave the house in the avalanche path and have it wiped out . Charlie : I think this party has a practical difficulty that needs to be solved. And since he has property rights that are pretty obvious I feel that it is the only way we can really go with good conscience . I would be in favor of granting the variance . 5 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Ron: This is a legally deeded single family lot of record in a legal subdivision. I think to deny a variance to allow a man to build on his lot is denying him a right shared by his neighbors . I share the concerns expressed in the Rappaport letter concerning property damage to their property as a result of what happened the last time a variance was granted. However the applicant has said the only way we are going to mitigate these damages is by allowing him to do something. Otherwise it is going to stay this way. I would agree with that . So I would be willing to grant this variance . Remo : My only concern which is brought to my attention--I really agree with Bob Hughes that especially that the FAR is so enormous that they could build beyond this envelope, I would be in favor of granting this variance if they kept it to the footprint that they now have and not expand it . I think if they do the more trees you cut down and once they get this variance then everything else is almost by right I would assume . It may come under a P&Z review but if it didn' t I would be very concerned about this house ballooning to the point where it no longer functions as a avalanche protection but maybe because of trees being cut down it would create that problem instead of mitigating it . Remo re-opened the public portion of the hearing to hear from Peterson. Peterson: The comment that I would make with respect to what you said, Remo, is that we have applied for a variance for the setback for this -ho-me- which is that footprint . So I think that addresses your conen . If we submit a different - set- of -plans - to the Building Dept that variance is not applicable . Remo : I don' t know about that . We are giving you a variance for a front yard setback. We are not addressing the footprint at all . In ordinary circumstances . I don' t know about your 8040 Greenline . Once we give you a variance you could change this footprint by right . So we want to make sure that it doesn' t change . At least I do . I want it on the record that this footprint not be expanded. Peterson: Without coming back to you. Remo : You can come back to us . That is true . But you don' t have it by right . MOTION Ron: I make a motion that we approve a 70 foot front yard variance to the front yard setback in Case #93-10 based on the footprint presented at this meeting. As a matter of public record the site 6 BAM9 . 2 . 93 plan (attached in record) is being offered as the footprint for the property and it not be expanded. Bill seconded the motion. Roll call vote : Howard, yes, Ron, yes, Bill, yes, Charlie, yes, Remo, yes . Variance granted. CASE #93-13 THOMAS & SUSAN HILB Remo read variance request . (attached in record) Sven Alstrom, architect for applicant, presented affidavit of posting and mailing. (attached in record) The applicants bought this house on McSkimming Road. Showed photos . This was the triangular side that was annexed into the City. And so the house was non-conforming when it was brought in under annexation. We have a lot of FAR left . That is not what we are trying to do here . The existing stairway is only 30 inches wide and it has a beam located above the lowest riser that has only 6 foot 5 clearance . So Susan came to me with the thought that the best thing to do with the house is move the stair to the side of the building and that way she could have a better stairs . That is what this presentation is based on. The home is on a triangular site and has non-conforming existing setbacks on 2 sides . We chose a place for the stair on the side toward McSkimming Road because it works better for internal placement . If she does any future expansion she will have to come back to this Board again. At this time it is really a safety issue and something that will make her home a lot easier to use . Remo: Where is the existing stairway? Discussion over plans . Susan Hilb: My husband and I are very short . When we bought the house we unfortunately--we saw it once for maybe 10 minutes--and then when we got into the house the risers are different heights even. I don' t know how it was allowed to be built that way. We had a guest who hit his head. And if we were to have a fire and to think of trying to evacuate the second floor it is a real safety issue . And because of the way the beams are placed in the house it is impossible to come up from anywhere within the current floor plan because it has the big beams that are there . 7 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Remo : Are you saying that you can' t widen it? Hilb: No. You can' t eliminate the 2 beams that support this . Alstrom: Also if you were to widen it she would have less than a 36 inch hallway from the master bedroom. So if she widened the stairs she couldn' t get to the master bedroom. More discussion over plans . Rick: There may be another area . Alstrom: Well, there is not another area. We have studied that out . This side we would also have to come to the Board. Hilb: And it has a lot more visual impact . Remo: You should have a plan showing where the site-- Alstrom: I have never presented an alternative solution to this Board. Remo: It is not an alternative solution. We just want to know where the setbacks are in relationship to the house so we know what we are dealing with and see if we could find alternatives . Ron: You don' t know if the staircase is illegal or anything else . Drueding: I am not qualified to say if it is illegal . That is the Building Department ' s issue . Charlie : If they do any remodeling to this house other than the stairway they have to do something to get that stair up to code? Howard: I would say 99% of the time they would be required to bring this stairway up to code . I just went through it today. We only did a 20% remodel on a house and we had to bring the entire hosue up to electrical code . This would happen if they did any work on this . Ron: The applicant came before us asking for a variance based on an unsafe condition. I don' t know that that condition is unsafe . I don' t know that that stairway is not up to code or anything else . If that could be shown then maybe I could agree that there is a hardship or practical difficulty in this case . But I haven' t seen anything that this is illegal . Howard: To establish a hardship you have to establish the fact that if you did build the stairs back out this way you would also 8 BAM9 . 2 . 93 be inside of the setback. So that you are forced to go one way or the other. And this would be more visually pleasing etc . But without a site plan we really don' t know that . Hilb: We are within the already impacted area. And if we go the other way the house is on the edge of the green belt . Remo : See we don' t know that . That is what we are telling you. We don' t have a site plan showing where the house is on your land. Charlie then read into the record a letter from Don Fleischer from the Aspen Grove Homeowner' s Association stating their approval of this project . (attached in record) After further discussion over plans-- Ron: Right now I am not ready to grant a variance . My problems of site plans are real important to me . I don' t know what is going on here and I think this is a severely restricted lot . It was one of record when the applicant purchased it . So she purchased it with those deficiencies knowing there were deficiencies . This is a minimal variance but I haven' t seen a hardship or practical difficulty. They haven' t shown me why this has to be the way it is . And I can' t tell them what I need to see that is the proof . Remo : In other words you would want verification that they can' t use the interior stairwell and therefore they can' t get up to the second story and how else would you-- Ron: I just don' t understand this at all . Rick: That stairway has been servicing the upstairs for 25 years . This was a duplex at one time . I understand that the lower level was one unit and the upper stair was another unit . But they put this stairway in here probably no more than 7 or 8 years ago. Maybe 10 years ago . But it seems to have served the purpose-- It was legal . It was a non-conforming not only to size but as to use . It was a duplex that should have been a single family. And they re-converted it to a single family, put this stairway in-- Howard: As far as the Building Dept is concerned it is illegal . The stairway is not a legal 30 inches wide . And the risers have to be a certain rise and in a situation of liabilities I would say that there might be a hardship. If somebody went in there and it was a fire and they got knocked out and the person died because they didn' t see the beam, there is a possibility of a hardship there . And a practical difficulty. They did not create the problem. The stairway is illegal . 9 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Ron: But is a variance the only solution? More discussion over plans . Ron: Bill, did you inspect the inside of this house? Drueding: No. Howard: If Sven is actually accurate about what he is talking about the 30 inch wide stairway is illegal . The headroom at 6 foot 5 is also illegal . It has got to be 7 feet . And if they have to bring it up to code with a beam that is a structural beam then we are going to a position where they have to restructure the house around the stairway. (discussion over plans) Ron: My problem is I am being asked to grant a variance based on unsubstantiated information. I feel very unhappy about doing something like that . I think Rick does too . He has asked if it was possible to satisfy our concerns and table this motion for a week. Howard: I would like to do that myself . I would like to have someone that is of authority like the Building Dept walk in there and say "This stairway is illegal and-- Ron: If I had the assurance that there is a safety condition that exists there that by granting a variance we would solve that safety problem, bring the building up to code, there was no other place to put that then I would have no problem. Remo : But it is part of the record. What they have said is part of the record. The variance would be based on what they say and it is part of the record. Rick : For Ron and I this variance is not going to happen unless we are satisfied as to the information that we have . And I think the only way to satisfy our concerns is to table to give the applicant time to get us the information we need. Howard: I do agree that I think we should table it and I think that you should consider that at this point . In the meantime if you can get someone from the Building Dept or a contractor or whatever to sign a piece of paper that says this is an illegal stairway and a safety issue from an insurance point of view. Alstrom: Whose authority do you want certified? Do you want another licensed architect to look at it? 10 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Members : The Building Dept because they are the people that are going to come in and tell you. They will do that . For $30 you can have them come over and inspect the stairway and give you a piece of paper that they have rejected it . The other thing that might help is to have an insurance person look at it . Rick: I think we are all in agreement that if we discovered that the stairway is a non-conforming and out of code and that it would require lifting the whole second floor up another foot or two then I could see-- Alstrom: It does . Rick : But I haven' t in my mind been satisfied to that . I would prefer tabling. Charlie : We also should have drawings and elevation or section through of that stairway. Rick: I would really like to get over there on site . Alstrom: It is just an interesting set of circumstances where a non-licensed person is going to make it more authoritative statement than a licensed one . Charlie : But you haven' t done anything with drawings . You are only telling us verbally. If you had given us an elevation or a section of this difficulty right here, we could have looked at something. That is where the Board is having difficulty. It was then discussed about having a site inspection and meeting at 3 : 30 at the site . Alstrom: Do you still want the Building Dept statement? Remo: Oh yes . Yes, we want something in writing from them. MOTION Rick: I move to continue Case #93-13 to date certain of September 9 , 1993 with a site visit at 3 : 30 P.M. and regular meeting at 4 : 00 P .M. here at City Hall . Ron seconded the motion with all in favor. CASE #93-14 DIANE HEDDON Remo read request for variance . (attached in record) 11 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Gene Claussen, contractor for applicant : I have been involved with this pretty much from the beginning. She has learned she has an additional 7 inches on this footprint to the east . She could go another 7 inches--it is . 7 feet that she could extend to the east which would change that part of it but not the variance difference . I have the 1975 prints on the addition that was made and at that time it was a 5 foot setback off this back yard which she was complying with. From that same corner she wants to continue that line which is encroaching on that 10 foot setback that same amount- -that 5 feet all the way to her east side yard setback and then continue it back to the corner of the existing house . This whole backyard area is still within her fence which is also on the City property. The views will not change very much if at all as far as what can be seen from the alley side . There is a large area there that is basically open space . If she was to change it a location of her bedroom or build another bedroom on it would have to be in the front area . As everybody knows the cost of building would--she would have to go for a bigger bedroom area. She would probably do a 2 story--and this is one of the things she wants to keep from doing is changing this neighborhood. And in particular her property basically trying to keep it within the general appearances as it is now. It would mean an additional bathroom for that master bedroom if she was to move it towards the front entry. And that is as much of a hardship as I can plead. Remo: There are two things that we can' t consider. Rick: She says here that she has owned this for 18 years . If that is the case--if this fence has been openly used for 18 years she could probably get that by adverse possession. Remo : Not with the City. Rick: This is the alley. And I don' t think she encroaches into the alley. Remo: She would have to go to court anyway to establish the adverse possession. Claussen: We looked at doing a vacation of the City property but we would have--the whole alley would have to be vacated. Everybody on that same side of the street which is a major undertaking. 12 BAM9 . 2 . 93 Ron: What size is the lot? 6 , 500 was the conclusion. Ron: How big is the house? Claussen: I have never measured out the square footage . Ron: I am trying to find out what kind of FAR do you have vs what you are allowed and how much you are allowed to build on to it . It seems there is a lot of room in the front of this building to do something with. Claussen: There is . And there are also trees that exceed 6 inches . Ron: So you are saying if we don' t grant you the variance that the only way you could do it would be to build a second story on this building which would probably be a larger. But you could do that anyway. Claussen: That ' s true . It is financial--it would be added cost . Ron: But if we grant you the variance you could do it next year. Charlie : I don' t have a feel as to the bedroom that is in question here . You mention in your application that she got married and therefore she has to have a bigger bedroom. It was OK for a single person but now for 2 people it is not . I can' t see that on this plan. What is existing right now in that bedroom in question. I want to see the back end of this building. Do you have something we could take a look at? Claussen: This is the 1975 plan and addition-- (discussion over plans) Nick McGrath, Attorney: I represent the Gant Condominium Assoc- iation. I am here with Molly Campbell . We are not here to object to this application. The Gant does have some concerns . The Gant has been active with improvement districts in the area. Initially there is a proposal for a large lodge improvement district that got changed slightly. In any event the Ute Avenue Improvement District was done with Ute Place and the Gant ' s co-operation. The Gant has also been working on plans for a West End Avenue Improvement District . And that is the function of concern here . We are concerned that the fence is outside the property line in the City' s ROW. It is in a very dilapidated condition and there is a lot of trash outside the fence on the Gant ' s side . Now to the extent that you can encourage the applicant when she remodels to 13 BAM9 . 2 . 93 improve those conditions, that would be appreciated. What we are concerned about is whether any variance would allow an encroachment in areas that might be affected by the District . As long as the applicant realizes that her fence is well outside the property line and that if a district is formed it is highly likely that the City would request removal of that fence . If she builds closer to her fence we don' t want her to argue "Well in the District, don' t make me remove my fence because look how close it is to my house" . But we will all know that the house is close to the fence because it is the product of a variance . So as long as some of those things are clear I don' t think we have a problem. (discussion over plans) Remo : Is that fence on the City property on both sides? Claussen and McGrath: Yes . Claussen: I was instructed to take everything out of there . It was the neighbors east of the applicant that placed it there . It was their own debris and it has been there for a while . She wants it off of her fence but they just completed a lawsuit with the neighbors and there is a period of time that they can try and get out of the agreement with the court--an appeal . And I was waiting to remove all of that until that point . It is on City property. It is not on her property so I assume they have a right to remove it whenever they want to . We will do it if it is not done in that period of time . Charlie : Would you rebuild the fence on your property line if this fence is removed? Claussen: Wherever you are allowed to build the fence . Probably on the property line . And Bill has already instructed me in order to get the building permit there is a form-- Drueding: - When we give building permits like this and we see an encroachment we require them to correct the encroachment . Remo asked for public comment . There was no more public comment and he closed the public portion of the hearing. Howard: He is considering that is where they are going to put the sidewalk right there and so if we grant a variance he is going to be sitting on the sidewalk. Claussen: You could put a sidewalk in there or even a street . But 14 BAM9 . 2 . 93 at that level it is raised probably 4 to 5 feet off the alleyway. Rick: Notwithstanding the fence and the Improvement District I have not heard a practical difficulty or a hardship that I could even commence to consider in this . By the applicant ' s own admission it is purely financial and a convenience to the applicant . And I would be denying this variance . Charlie : I have a similar problem. I didn' t see a practical difficulty or a hardship. It is a convenience . That is about it . And I don' t think I would be in favor of this variance . Ron: I agree . Bill : I agree . Remo : I have nothing more to say. It is that our guidelines-- you are giving us reasons that are pertinent to everybody in the same vicinity and zone . And you have to make a presentation to us that somehow--you know, everyone in 1975 or whenever the changes were made were in setbacks and things of that nature . Everyone in that district came under the same problem that you used for us to grant you a variance . At one time it was 5 feet, now it is 10 . Everyone in that same vicinity and zone has the same problem. So unless you have something that is so different, so unique to this particular property then it is very difficult for us to grant you a variance . Claussen: I couldn' t come up with a different one . MOTION Rick: I move to deny the variance in Case #93-14 . Ron seconded the motion with all in favor. MOTION Ron: I move to table minutes of July 15 and August 5 , 1993 . Rick seconded the motion with all in favor. MOTION Rick made a motion to adjourn meeting. Ron seconded the motion with all in favor. Time was 5 : 55 P.M. Janice . Carney, C117 eputy Clerk 15