HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/16/2000 - MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
PUBLIC HEARING -AUGUST 16, 2000
Present: Mr. Rodney McNeil, Chairman
Mr. Eric Thomas
Mr, Richard .Torres
Mr.. Carlton Wright
Mr., Eldon Karr
Mr. Tim Beard, Secretary
Mx. McNeil called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Wright moved approval of the agenda.
Mr. Jones seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING REQUESTS
Variance requested by Carol Craighead of Sections 30- 81- 5.(A)1 and 30- 81- 5:(A)2 of the
Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the required minimum lot size from 2 acres
to 1.97 acres and to allow more than one stable animal per acre on a lot of less than five
acres, respectively. The purpose of this request is to continue keeping two horses on the
property located at 1865 Louise Wells Drive, Catawba Magisterial District, .
Ms. Craighead presented her petition noting that she has stabled horses onsite since her
family moved there in 1994, She stated that following her grandmother's death, a survey
completed in 1998 redrew boundary lines causing the property she and her immediate
family reside on to be reduced. to 197 acres.. Barry Francisco, petitioner's cousin and
adjoining owner to the south., spoke against the request citing waste disposal and
inadequate grazing area for the horses as his concerns. Mr. Darr said that the horses may
not be exclusively grass -fed. Mr. Ron Smith spoke in support of the applicant
emphasizing the importance of'horses to the Craighead children,.
Mr. Karr moved to approve the petition due to a hardship created by the boundary change
which occurred after the horses were brought to the property.
AYES: Thomas, .Tones, Wright, McNeil, Karr
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
2, Variance requested by Linda .Tolrnson and William. Henahan of Section. 30- 34- 3.(B)2 a of
the Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the required minimum side yard setback.
from 15 feet to 8 feet. The purpose of this request is to construct an attached garage/
accessory apartment located at 5358 Keffer Road, Catawba Magisterial District.
The petitioners presented their request stating that Ms. Johnson purchased the subject
property fifteen years ago. At that time, the terrain was flat. They said that additional
living space is needed since Mr. Henahan's mother intends to move in with the
applicants and that the northwest side yard along with the existing driveway may be the
only stable location remaining on -site. Sinkholes are evident in the rear and east side
yards as well as part of the front. Responding to questions from Messers Karr, Wright
and McNeil, the petitioners stated that fill material has been placed on -site previously
which had little desirable effect on the sinkholes, that alternative designs such as
building a bedroorn onto the back of the house and adding a single rather than double -car
garage was considered but rejected due to high costs, and that no geological report is
available verifying that the specific location proposed for expansion would support the
addition. Mr. Henahan emphasized that the well onsite is very shallow and that the high
water table here goes hand -in -hand with the numerous sinkholes. Marls Pratt, adjoining
landowner potentially most affected by the proposal, noted his concern that the size and
proximity of the proposed addition could make it difficult for him to sell his property.
Mr. Karr moved to approve the request with the sought after 8 -foot side yard increased to
to 10 feet. He based his motion on the topographic hardship created by sinkholes on the
on the property. Mr. Jones seconded the motion and proposed a condition that the
expansion be limited to one story due to loading concerns. After some discussion, he
rescinded the condition. With the motion to reduce the required side yard setback from
15 feet to 10 feet on the floor, the following votes were cast:
AYES: Thomas, McNeil, Karr
NAYS: .tones, Wright
.ABSENT: None
ApprDY_aLofMinut.es:
Mr. Wright moved to approve the minutes of June 21, 2000. Mr. Jones seconded the motion
which carried unanimously.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p..m.
Respectfully submitted,
Timothy Beard, Secretary
Board of Zoning Appeals