From
Chris Hartmann
Title
VA180801 - Variance - Lake Forest Addition (City Council District 4). Variance Request to allow a front-entry garage on Lot 1, Block A, Lake Forest Addition, City of Grand Prairie, Tarrant County, Texas. 6,287 square feet zoned PD-355 and located at 5805 Tory Dr., Grand Prairie, Texas.
Presenter
David P. Jones, AICP, Chief City Planner
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
Daniel Nawar of VeraLux Homes requests a two foot setback variance for a proposed garage at 5805 Tory Drive. The property is zoned PD-355, which requires non-front entry garages on all units. The Ordinance authorizing PD-355 allows City Council to grant variances to regulations found therein.
The garage proposed on Lot 1, Block A is considered a front-entry garage because the face of the garage door sits approximately two feet closer to the front plane of the house than it does to the rear plane (UDC Appendix W, Section 2.II - “Architectural, Dimensional, and Density Guidelines”).
An analysis of Lot 1, Block A shows that the effective width of the lot is hindered by the screen wall along Doryn Drive, which limits the buildable area of the lot and the options for locating the garage. The Lake Forest Addition was platted with 75 foot deep lots, which is significantly shallower than lots found in standard single-family districts. As a result, staff finds that the shape and effective area of the lot presents a hardship which hinders the development of the lot in accordance with PD-355 regulations. Staff also finds that a two foot variance will not detract significantly from the character of the neighborhood or the surrounding homes.