Minutes 12-19-77MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ~ETING HELD AT CITY HALL,
BOYNTON BEACH, FLOR IDA, MOND.AY, DECE~ER 19, 1 977 AT 7: 00 P.M.
~ESENT
Derle Bailey, Chairman
Vernon Thompson, Jr., Vice Chairman
David Healy, Secretary
Mrs. Lillian Bond
Foy Ward
Carl Zimmerman
Ben Adelman, Alternate
Charles Rodriguez, Alternate
BSENT
Walter B. Rutter (Excused)
Bert Keehr, Asst.
Building Official
Chairman Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:00 P. M.
and introduced the members of the Board, Assistant Building
Official, and Recording Secretary.
MINUTES OF NOVEMJ~ER ~
Mr. Healy referred to Page 21, third paragraph, ninth line
down, and corrected Mm. Zimmerman,s motion to withdraw "fur-
ther considerationS,. Mrs. Bond moved to accept the minutes
as corrected, seconded by Mr. Thompson. Motion carried 7-0.
PUBLIC HEARING
Parcel #1 - Lots 13 and 14, Block 23, Bowers Park
Recorded in Plat Book 11, Page 57
Palm Beach County Records
Request - Relief from 25 ft. rear setback
requirement to 10 ft. rear setback
to build apartment adjacent to
existing residence.
Address - 1020 South Seacrest Blvd.
Applicant - William H. Huff
~. Healy read the above application and a letter submitted
requesting the variance in order to build a 22 x 30 ft.
apartment for .Mrs. Huff's mother. It further stated that
the mother is elderly and afraid to live alone, it will
face Seacrest Blvd. and match the existing architecture and
enhance the building. The members reviewed the plan and
Chairman Bailey requested M~. Huff to address the Board.
Mr. William H. Huff, 919 South Seacrest Blvd., appeared
before the Board. He informed the members that the addi-
tion planned will face Seacrest Blvd., the same as the
existing dwelling, and explained how they proposed to match
the existing architecture. He then stated he would be glad
to answer questions or defend his reason for the variance.
MINUTES
EOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
PAGE
DECEMBER 1 9, 1977
Me. Adelman referred to the houses to the north being close
to the property line and questioned when this area was re-
zoned and ~. Huff replied that the dwelling directly to the
north has a setback of 10 ft. from the Boundary line. He
understands that those two lots face 9th Avenue, the same as
his two lots face lOth Avenue. He does not know if the zoning
was changed; but approximately two years ago, it was changed
to R-2. ~. Thompson asked if he owned the property before
the zoning change and ~. Huff replied negatively and added
that it belonged to his wife's parents. ~. Zimmerman asked
how long he has lived at this address and Mr. Huff replied
for approximately two years.
M~. Rodriguez questioned the size of the present structure
and ~. Huff informed him t~at it has three bedrooms, two
baths and a large family room on the rear. Mr. Rodriguez
asked how many people were in residence now and ~. Huff
replied that he owns the property now, but his mother-in-
law previously owned it. He added that his mother-in-law
was afraid to live a~one due to the murder just a few months
ago a few blocks away. This is something they would like to
do for her to help her be more comfortable and secure. M~.
Rodriguez asked how many people there were in his family and
M~. Huff replied that there was his wife, two small children
and himself.
Chairman Bailey referred to the property immediately to the
north and questioned the setback from the side line and M~.
Huff replied that the one immediately to the north which
faces Seacrest Blvd. has a side yard of approximately 10 ft.
Mr. Adelman added that he paced it off and it is approximately
10 to 11 ft. ~s. Bond asked when this house was built and
P~. Huff replied approximately two to three years ago.
Mr. Healy referred to the address on the application being
1020 and ~. Huff stating his address as 919 and M~. Huff
explained that the house was empty because they were remod-
eling it and he has his present house for sale preparing to
move into this house.
Chairman Bailey clarified that the front of the house was
facing Seacrest Blvd. and ~. Huff agreed M~. Ward ques-
tioned the . etoack from loth Avenue and Mr. Huff informed
him there was 25.87 ft. from the east boundary line. Chair-
man Bailey questioned the setback from the south and ~.
Huff informed him it was 30.3 ft. Chairman Bailey clari-
fied that the existing side setback on the north is 37.7 ft.
and the request is to reduce it to 10.7 ft. and the require-
merit is 25 ft.~ A 14.3 ft. variance is required on the north
side to build the addition.
~. Healy referred to the zoning being for duplexes and asked
if this would be considered as two homes on one lot and Mr.
MINUTES
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT PAGE THREE
DECEMBER 1 9, 1 977
Huff replied that it would be attached to the existing dwell-
ing by a breezeway. Mr. Eeehr added that this would be suffi-
cient to qualify for a duplex.
Mr. Zimmerman asked by what dimensions the lot would be re-
duced in siZe by the widening of Seacrest Blvd. and the addi-
tional land needed for the entrance from 10th Avenue and I~.
Huf£ replied that the survey showed how muchit~and was being
taken for Seacrest Blvd.
?~' R°drigUez questioned the rear yard setback required ~or a
duplex and ~. Keehr informed him it was 25 ft. ~s. Bond
asked if consideration had been given to putting the addition
on the other side on lOth Avenue and Me. Huff replied affirma-
tively and explained the size desired would not allow~it even
with a lO ft. setback. He pointed out that there was less
roQm on that side and Chairman Bailey added that 25 ft set-
back wouldmbe required there also. '
Mr. Healy asked if it was going to be something like a canopy
attached to the existing building and M~. Huff explained that
it would be a decorative block enclosure to match the existing
with a solid roof.
Chairman Bailey asked if anyone in the audience desired to
speak in favor of this variance and received no response.
He then asked if anyone desired to speak in opposition and
received no response.
M~. Adelman made a motion to grant this variance for the reason
that there are three houses on this block and the other two
both have ~0 ft. setbacks. It seems unfair to penalize this
one house. ~. Thompson seconded the motion. Under discus-
sion, ~. Healy referred to a hardship being involved and
stated he felt this was a self-made hardship. He e~plained
how he could not consider the building of a separate apart-
ment as a complete hardship, but possibly could consider it
if just an additional room was planned. Mr. Adelman stated
he thought it was a hardship when the zoning regulations
make this one house unique since the other houses have not
met the requirements. ~. Rodriguez stated that is why he
questioned.the requirements for a duplex and this is based
upon a duplex use; however, what is unique is that the con-
struction of this house did not leave too m~ch space for
this addition. He explained how the zoning laws were drawn
up to establish standards and how the Board of Adjustment
was authorized to grant variances for specific hardships.
However, this is unique with the two lots facing lOt~ Ave,
and the rear yard setback being a little odd.
~. Zimmerman referred to a hardship and stated that the
applicant has not lived in this house, the rezoning did not
h ·
cause a ardshmp and he is not living there yet.
MINUTES
BOARD OF ADJUST~T PAGE FOUR
DECE~ER 19, 1977
Mr. Healy stated he was sure when the house was built, per-
mission was granted by the Zoning Board or Board of Adjust-
ment at that time to change these lots from the frontage to
Seacrest Blvd. Chairman Bailey questioned the basis for this
assumption and ~. Healy replied that he believes this home
would have had to face on lOth Avenue and permission must
have been given to make the change, t~'~. Keehr stated that
the only requirement was to meet the setbacks~and pointed
out that it appeared the house was set in the center of the
two lots. ~. ~ard asked when the house was built and
HUff replied approximately twelve years ago. ~s. Bond asked
how long his mother-in-law had~owned it and ~. Huff replied
that she bought it new from the contractor.
Chairman Bailey stated that right now, the house is facing
Seacrest BlVd. and in checking the sur~ey, the required front
setback is 25 ft. and the existing house is 25.35 ft. from
the e~isting right-of-way. One, the south side on S. E. ~Oth
Avenue, 25 ~t. is required and it is 30.3 ft. On the e~st
side, which in common sense is the Back yard, 25 ft. is re-
quired and 25.87 ft. is existing. He questioned the side
setback for a duplex and ~. Eeehr informed him it was 10 ft.
Chairman Bailey continued that 10.7 ft. is proposed on the
north side and explained how consideration should possibly
be given to stipulating that nothing be built on the east
side. He ad~ed that legally 5 ft. could be added to the
south side as long as the maximum coverage is not exceeded.
The front yard could be ~Oth Avenue and by ~mking applica-
tion to the post office, the address couid be changed..
Eeehr agreed that by being consistent with the rest of the
block, JOth Avenue would have to be considered the front
yard. Chairman Bailey suggested that the motion be amended
with the stipulation that the east side be considered the
rear yard and no addition can be made on the east side to
maintain a 25 ft. rear setback. There was~further discus-
sion about the determination of the setbacks and ~¢~. Thompson
added that probably additional building would not be allowed
because the maximum square footage and density would be ex-
ceeded. Chairman Bailey explained how there was the possi-
bility that a 15.7 x 40.3 ft. addition could be built on the
east side. They further discussed what could possibly be
built in the future.
~¢r. Adelman then made the amendment not to allow construction
on the east property seconded by ~s Bond. Amendment car-
ried 7-0. ' ' ·
.~.s requested, ~s. Kruse took a roll call on the original
motion as follows:
Fms. Bond - Yes
Mr. Thompson - Yes
~. Ward - Yes
Mr. Adelman - Yes
..Mr. Zi~merman - Yes
Mr. Healy - No
~. Bailey - Yes
Motion carried 6-1.
MINUTES
B!OA~D OF ADJUSTMENT
PAGE FIYE
DECEMBER 1 9, 1977
Mr. Adelman made a motion to adjourn, seconded by ~s Bond
Motion carried 7-0 and the meeting was properly adjourned at
7:45 P.M. ' '
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne M. Kruse
Recording Secretary
(One Tape)