License and Variance Board Meeting - Council Chambers — Minutes
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April 22, 2026 10:00 AM City of Smyrna License and Variance Board Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 7 of 8 on the front of the home to replace the existing 24-square-foot stoop. (Note that a building permit (RBP-26-16) was issued on the subject property for the interior work in February 2026.) When completed, the home will be 1,890 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, bringing the home closer into compliance with the R-15 minimum floor area requirement of 2,000 square feet. The existing home currently has an uncovered 24 square foot concrete front porch. As part of the overall renovation, the applicant is proposing to replace the existing porch with a 160 square foot covered front porch to enjoy the front yard as well as enter the home in inclement weather more easily. The existing home is roughly 4 feet from the front setback line, leaving little room for a roof on the existing front porch, much less any other frontward expansion. The applicant has proposed the new porch will be 32.3 feet from the front property line and will thus encroach on the front setback by 2.7 feet. Per Section 1207, architectural projections such as stairs may extend into the side yard up to 3 feet. However, once the stairs are enclosed, the stairs become part of the main house structure and must meet building setback requirements. Once enclosed, the stairs will encroach into the setback by 3.3 feet. Due to the existing stair location and existing access to the basement, staff are supportive of the request. Since the existing home was constructed in 1953, prior to the adoption of the current Zoning Ordinance in 1974, Community Development believes the variances requested are the minimum variance needed to construct a usable front porch and enclose the existing stairs. Community Development does not foresee any negative impacts to adjacent properties should the variances be approved. Similar front setback variance requests have been approved in 1982 at 1028 Oakview Drive, in 2005 at 961 Oakview Drive (V05- 014), and most recently in 2024 at 986 Oakview Drive and 1031 Oakview Drive (V24-018 and V24-066, respectively). At the time of this report, Community Development has not received any calls in opposition to the request. The applicant is requesting to vary from the R-15 front and side setbacks requirements for the construction of an addition at 989 Oakview Drive. According to Section 1403 of the Zoning Ordinance, variances must be reviewed under the following standards: (1) Whether there are unique and special or extraordinary circumstances applying to the property; (2) Whether any alleged hardship is self-created by any person having an interest in the property; (3) Whether strict application of the relevant provisions of the code would deprive the applicant of reasonable use of the property; and (4) Whether the variance proposed is the minimum variance needed. After a review of the standards above, Community Development believes that the encroachments will not adversely affect surrounding residents; therefore, staff recommends approval of the requested variances with the following condition: 1. Approval of the requested variances shall be conditioned upon substantial compliance with the site plan and elevations submitted with the variance application. Miguelle Milo, applicant, understands and agrees to the standard condition read into record. A public hearing was called for items V26-040 and V26-041, and no one came forward in favor of or in opposition to these items. The public hearing was closed. Board Member Andrea Worthy made a motion to approve item V26-040; seconded by Board Member Dustin Davey.