License and Variance Board Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
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April 09, 2025 10:00 AM City of Smyrna License and Variance Board Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 3 of 8 The subject parcel is a 0.33-acre lot located on the northern side of Medlin Street. The subject parcel and all adjacent parcels to the north, east, and west are zoned R-15 whereas the adjacent parcels to the south are zoned RDA; all are occupied by detached single-family homes. The subject parcel is part of the Mrs. O.E. Pickens subdivision, which was platted in 1925, prior to the current Smyrna Zoning Ordinance, which was implemented in 1976. The applicant is proposing to demolish the majority of the existing one-story 952 square foot house and build a new 4,549 square foot two-story single-family home which will consist of 5 bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms with a combination hardiplank, brick, and board and batton façade. The home will be accessed off the existing driveway apron off Medlin Street, which will be extended and paved as part of the construction project. The subject property is 13,860 square feet, while the R-15 zoning district requires a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet. Since the subject property is an existing lot of record, originally platted in 1925. The hardship is not self-created. Additionally, as mentioned, the existing one-story home is 952 square feet, which is well below the minimum house size of the R-15 zoning district of 2,000 square feet. With the new construction, the home will also be brought into compliance with the R-15 zoning district minimum floor area requirement. If it were not for the substandard lot size, no other variances would be required to build the new home. The subject property is unique in that it has less square footage than what the R-15 zoning district requires. The hardship is not self-created as the property is an existing lot of record. The variance requested is the minimum variance needed to build a new single- family home on the subject property. Community Development does not believe building a new single-family home on the subject property in accordance with the R-15 zoning requirements will negatively impact the surrounding properties as there is an existing home on the subject property. At the time of this report, Community Development has not received any calls in opposition to the request. The applicant is requesting to deviate from the City’s minimum lot area requirement established for the R-15 zoning district. 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. Community Development believes that the requested variance will not adversely affect surrounding properties. Therefore, staff recommend approval of the requested variance with the following conditions: 1. Approval of the requested variance shall be conditioned upon substantial compliance with the site plan and elevations submitted with the variance application. Harold Shoemaker, applicant, stated he had purchased this home and the one beside it about a year ago. This will be a 4,200 sq ft finished home at a price point of $1.35 – $1.4M range. He stated he understands and agrees to the standard stipulation read into record. A public hearing was called, and no one came forward in favor of or in opposition to this item.