HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 08-28-23
CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARING OFFICER
DEPARTMENT REPORT
MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023
(V) Vien Residence Variances.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approvals for a pool house:
4. Docket No. PZ-2023-00171 V UDO Section 2.04 Maximum 18-ft accessory building
height allowed, 20’- 2 ¼” requested.
5. Docket No. PZ-2023-00172 V UDO Section 5.02 (B)(3)(a) Combined square footage of the
Ground Floor of a Private Garage and/or Accessory Building shall not exceed 75% of the Ground
Floor Area of the Principal Building; 79% requested. The site is located at 1571 Asherwood Ln.
(Asherwood Subdivision Lot 33) and is zoned S1/Residence. Filed by Matt Huffman of Old Town Design
Group, on behalf of Hon Vien and Trina Sherlitz-Vien, owners.
General Info:
• The Petitioner seeks approval for a pool house that is attached to the main house with an open air portico/breezeway
(with roof).
• The site is located in Asherwood Subdivision residential neighborhood.
• Surrounding this site are single family detached residential homes.
• The neighborhood Architectural Review Board approval has been granted.
• Variances requested are for accessory building height and for accessory building ground floor area.
• Please see the Petitioner’s info packet for more detail on the variance requests.
Variances Requested:
Accessory Building Height -
• The UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) states that the maximum accessory building height is 18 feet, and the
proposed height is 20’ 2-¼”. This is a variance of 2.2 feet, or a 12% change.
• The main house will be 2 stories tall.
• The proposed accessory structure will be located in the back yard, 42-ft away from the side property lines and 77 feet
from the rear property line.
• The exterior materials will match and/or complement the existing house.
Accessory Building Ground Floor Area -
• The UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) allows for a maximum 24’x 30’ detached accessory structure ground
floor area (720 sq. ft.), and approximately 25’ x 50’ is requested (around 1,250 sq ft). (And, the combined square
footage of the ground floor area of garages and/or accessory buildings shall not exceed 75% of the ground floor area of
the principal building, and 79% is requested.)
• Its footprint will be approximately 25’ wide by 50-ft long (not including the veranda).
• The detached accessory structure will be used for a pool house.
• The owners are willing to provide a commitment that the pool house will not be used as a residence/dwelling.
• (A Guest House accessory use is allowed, since the site is larger than 1 acre.)
Review Comments:
• The Petitioner addressed all planning/zoning review comments.
Final Comments:
• The Planning Dept. supports the variance requests, with the condition listed in the Recommendation below.
Findings of Fact:
• Please refer to the Petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their BZA Info Packet.
Recommendation:
• The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends positive consideration of this variance request with the
condition of the Petitioner providing a copy of a recorded commitment to DOCS within 30 days of approval that the
pool house will not be used as a residence/dwelling, and with adoption of the Findings of Fact submitted by the
Petitioner.