HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/21/2000 - MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
PUBLIC HEARING - .TUNE 21, 2000
Present: Mr_ Rodney McNeil
Mr_ Eldon Karr
Mr. Thomas
Mr. Jones
Mr, Wright
Mr, Tim Beard
Mr. McNeil called the ineeting 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
Reconsideration of variance requested by Daryl and Sonya David of Section 30-41 -
3.(B)4 of the Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance to reduce the required front yard
(corner) setback from 30 feet to 15 feet. The purpose of this request is to construct an
attached garage located at 5505 Galloway Circle, Windsor Hills Magisterial District.
Mr.. Karr moved to reconsider the David's request since all five Board members were not
present at the .Tune 21 hearing at which time a vote on the applicants' request ended in a
tie. Mr. Thomas seconded the motion to reconsider. The petitioners described their
situation rioting that any driveway widening done would not cross into state right --of -way.
Mrs. David spoke of the small size of the lot, easements onsite and how the minimum 30-
foot setback requirement on both streets unfairly penalizes corner lot owners.
Mr. Wright moved to approve the request due to the recurring nature of corner lot setback
requests in addition to the specific circumstances present at the petitioners' site. Mr.
Thomas seconded the motion which carried with the following vote:
AYES: McNeil, Thomas, Wright
NAYS: .Tones, Karr
ABSENT: None
1 Variance requested by Tolin Caputo for Rainbow Sign Company of the following sections
of the Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance: 30- 93.1 L(A) and 30- 93- 13.(E)5 to increase
the square footage of a nonconforming freestanding sign from approximately 100 square
feet to 196 square feet and increase allowable height from 25 feet to 54 feet; Sections 30-
93- 11:.(A) and 30- 93- 13.(E)5 to increase the square footage of a nonconforming free -
standing sign from approximately 192 square feet to 224 square feet and to increase the
allowable height of said sign from 25 feet to 32 feet; and Section 30- 93- 13.,(E)2 to
increase signage on a lot in excess of its maximum sign area allocation located at 3915
Brarribleton Avenue, Windsor Hills Magisterial District.
Mr. Caputo presented the case on behalf of Cave Spring Corners tenants, Kroger and
Ames. He noted that both signs need refurbishing, that ISroger's difficulty is a loss of
visibility since the drugstore onsite now bears the Kroger name and is not independent as
previous pharmacies at this location have been. The applicant stated that he is not
seeking to raise the height of the two signs existing heights of 32 and 54 feet,
respectively), rather to reinstall sign faces within existing frameworks. Mr. Caputo was
not sure of the dates of original construction of the sign structures, Mr. Wright asked the
applicant to clarify particular locations and sizes of proposed sign faces to be inserted into
each sign. Mr. Jones asked if lowering the Ames sign had been considered, Mr. Caputo
replied that he does not have authority from Ames to offer such a change.
Concerning the Ames sign, Mr. Wright moved to approve the request with the condition
that support columns not be disturbed and that total height (existing at 54 feet) not be
altered. Mr. Karr seconded the motion which carried with the following vote:
AYES: McNeil, Karr, Thomas, Wright
NAYS: Jones
ABSENT: None
Concerning the Kroger /Cave Spring Corners sign, Mr. Jones moved to approve the
request with the condition that total height (existing at 32 feet) not be altered. Mr.
Thomas seconded the motion which carried with the following vote:
AYES: McNeil, Karr, Thomas, Jones, Wright
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
Concerning the request to increase overall signage on the property already in excess of its
allowed maximum, Mr. Wright moved to approve the petition.. Mr, Karr seconded the
motion which carried with the following vote:
AYES: McNeil, Karr, Thomas, Jones, Wright
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
3. Variance requested by Lowell and Sarah Eller of Section .30 -100 -1 L(A) of the Roanoke
County Zoning Ordinance to create a family exemption subdivision within an existing
Planned Residential Subdivision, The purpose of this request is to create a 1,355 acre
parcel for sale to a daughter and son -in -law located at 4410 Harborwood Road, Catawba
Magisterial District.
Attorney Jeff Dorsey representing the Ellers opened discussion of this request stating that
the C. Dan Coleman subsivision, within which the applicants property lies, is not a
Planned Residential Subdivision as defined by the ordinance. Mr. Dorsey noted in his
opinion that this subdivision is not an "integral, residential neighborhood unit" since most
standard features built into subdivisions (curb and gutter, etc), are not present here, that
one of the nine subdivision lots is greater than five acres in size and that the total area of
the Eller lot (4,09 acres), width of the tract at its south end (over 300 feet) and the degree
of separation from either side property line to the potential future building site (over 100
feet) makes a variance appropriate in this instance.. Attorney Wil Dibling introduced
opposing landowners Sam Lazzaro, Linda Graham and Ed Blankenship. Their comments
involved privacy issues and the lack of a public road at the subject location.. Mr. Dibling
noted his complete agreement with the staff report, particularly spirit and harmony of the
ordinance, Community Plan comments and an approval here would set a precedent to
allow family exemptions throughout the county, even in Planned Residential Subdivision.
Mr. Dorsey then noted that because of the recordation date of the Coleman subdivision
(1987), P.R.S provisions do not apply. Sarah Eller stated that the dwelling proposed for
the family exemption would be in line with nearby real property values, that all covenants
would be complied with, that absolute minimum grading at construction would occur and
and that, had she and Mr. Eller known in the first two years of ownership (1990 - 1992),
they would have created the family exempt lot prior to the ordinance prohibition on such
exemptions (begirming in 1992 with the appearance of Planned Residential Subdivision
language),
Mr.. Karr moved to deny the request based on the lack of a demonstrable hardship shown
per ordinance requirements and the possibility of the petitioners filing an administrative
appeal over whether or not this subdivision meets the Planned Residential Subdivision
definition. Mr. Jones seconded the motion which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Darr, Thomas, Jones
NAYS: McNeil, Wright
ABSENT: None
Approval of Minutes:
Mr. Karl° moved to approve the minutes of May 17, 2000, Mr, Jones seconded the motion which
carried unanimously.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p,m..
Respectfully submitted,
! J I-VIrI
Timothy Beard, Secretary
Board of Zoning Appeals