License and Variance Board Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
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October 22, 2025 10:00 AM City of Smyrna License and Variance Board Meeting 2800 King Street SE Council Chambers Page 2 of 6 Caitlin Crowe, Land Development Services Coordinator, provided the following background: The subject parcel is a 0.37-acre lot located on the south side of Dundee Drive. The subject parcel and all adjacent parcels are zoned R-15 and are occupied by detached single-family homes in the Highlands subdivision. The applicant is proposing to remodel the existing 1,871 square foot one-story home by adding a 923 square foot addition and a 303 square foot carport to the northwest side of the home. The addition will consist of a new master suite, laundry room, and powder room. The one-car carport will be erected over the existing driveway in line with the front of the home. The existing home was constructed in 1959, shortly after the Highlands subdivision plat was recorded the same year, which was prior to the adoption of the current Zoning Ordinance in 1974. The plat reflects a 30-foot front setback, but the existing code requires a 35-foot front setback for R-15 lots; per Section 1501, whichever ordinance is more restrictive governs, which would be the 35 feet. The applicant is proposing to extend the line of the existing home, which would enter into the front setback. Thus, rather than a 1.6- foot encroachment, the applicant is proposing a 6.6-foot encroachment into the front setback. Due to the size of the lot and position of the home on the property, no additional variances are required. The subject property is pie-shaped, with a large curved front yard that narrows to a point in the rear. The existing home is situated in the middle of the lot, perpendicular to the curved roadway. Since the building addition would follow the straight line of the home, the front corner of the carport will encroach into the front setback due to the nature of the curved building setback, which follows the geometry of the road. Due to the unique geometry of the lot, the hardship is not self-created. Additionally, the existing house is 1,871 square feet, while the minimum house size of R- 15 is 2,000 square feet. With the renovations, the home will be 3,097 square feet, bringing the home into compliance with the R-15 floor area requirement. Due to the existing location of the existing home and driveway on the subject property, the most logical location for the carport is over the existing driveway. The variance proposed is the minimum variance needed to construct the garage in line with the current home due to the geometry of the property. Additionally, the same variance was approved in 2023 down the street at 2009 Glenroy Drive in 2023 (V23-073) so there is a precedence for this type of variance in the immediate neighborhood. At the time of this report, Community Development has not received any calls in opposition to this request. The applicant is requesting to deviate from the development standards established by the City for the R-15 zoning district which requires a front setback of 35 feet. 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 placing the carport in the front setback will not adversely affect surrounding residents; therefore, staff recommends approval of the requested variance with the following condition: