Submitted by: At the Request of the City Administrator
Submitting Department: Community & Economic Development
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
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Zoning Variance Request V-8-23 - 3814 Nicholson Street, Hyattsville
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the City Council authorize the Mayor to send to the Board of Zoning Appeals a letter in support of V-8-23, for subject property at 3814 Nicholson Street, Hyattsville. The purpose of the zoning variance request is to validate existing conditions of net lot area, lot width, lot frontage, front yard depth and side yard width to enable the approval of a building permit to allow for the construction of a one-story addition on an existing residential dwelling unit.
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Summary Background:
The applicants, Edward Meidenbauer and Carol-Lynn Swol, have applied to the Prince George’s County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for a zoning variance to validate existing conditions (net lot area, lot width, lot frontage, front yard depth, and side yard width) and to obtain a building permit for the construction of a one-story addition on an existing dwelling.
The existing dwelling was built prior to modern zoning standards and is located as close as 7.04 feet to the existing lot side yard lot line and as close as 21.7 feet to the existing front yard lot line. The addition would not be located closer to the side yard lot line than the existing dwelling, and the petitioner is further proposing to remove a portion of deck and stairs that projects into the side yard. The proposed addition is shown on Figure 2 in in pink and the portions of structure to be removed are shown in blue.
The petitioner is also requesting a variance to allow them to exceed the maximum lot coverage for the site by 4.5%, or 209 square feet. The lot is undersized for the RSF-65 zone, and this variance would not be necessary if the net lot area were the minimum 6,500sf anticipated for the zone.
Next Steps:
No additional action is required.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
City Administrator Comments:
The City’s Variance Policy states that “the City shall as a matter of policy provide letters of support for residents to document a ‘non-conforming lot’ as part of the normal permitting process for projects complying with all other aspects of zoning regulations, unless the matter at hand is the certification of a non-conforming use on a non-conforming lot.”
Based upon the application and the City’s Variance Policy, City Staff recommends the City Council support V-8-23 for the subject property at 3814 Nicholson Street, Hyattsville. The net lot area, front building and front street line widths, front yard depth, and side yard width are existing conditions of the dwelling. The petitioner is proposing the rear addition in alignment with the existing side building facade, which is a logical configuration for the site. The applicant is also proposing to exceed the allowable lot coverage by 4.5%, which Staff finds reasonable as the lot is undersized for the RSF-65 zone and the configuration of the dwelling and parking on the lot would not be out of character for the neighborhood.
Community Engagement:
The BZA hearing was held on March 7, 2023 and the Board is awaiting a recommendation from the City Council, prior to issuing a decision.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 3 - Promote a Safe and Vibrant Community
Legal Review Required?
N/A