ITEM05 C15-2026-0021 ADV PACKET JULY13 — original pdf
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CITY OF AUSTIN Board of Adjustment Decision Sheet ITEM 03 DATE: Monday June 8, 2026 CASE NUMBER: C15-2026-0021 ___Y____Thomas Ates (D1) ___Y____Bianca A Medina-Leal (D2) ___-____Jessica Cohen (D3) OUT ___Y____Yung-ju Kim (D4) ___-____Melissa Hawthorne (D5) OUT ___Y____Haseeb Abdullah (D6) ___Y____Sameer S Birring (D7) ___Y____Margaret Shahrestani (D8) ___Y____Brian Poteet (D9) ___Y____Michael Von Ohlen (D10) ___Y____Jeffery L Bowen (M) ___Y____Corry L Archer-McClellan (Alternate) (M) ___Y____Suzanne Valentine (Alternate) (M) ___-____VACANT (Alternate) (M) APPLICANT: George Siddall OWNER: George Siddall ADDRESS: 2101 ARPDALE STREET VARIANCE REQUESTED: The applicant is requesting a variance(s) from the Land Development Code, Section 25-2-492 (Site Development Regulations) (D) from setback requirements for a street side setback of 15 feet (required) to 0 feet (requested) in order to maintain a Carport in a “SF-3”, Single-Family zoning district. BOARD’S DECISION: The public hearing was closed by Chair Jeffery Bowen, Board Member Michael Von Ohlen’s motion to postpone to July 13, 2026, Board member Haseeb Abdullah second on 11-0 votes; POSTPONED TO JULY 13, 2026. FINDING: 1. The Zoning regulations applicable to the property do not allow for a reasonable use because: 2. (a) The hardship for which the variance is requested is unique to the property in that: (b) The hardship is not general to the area in which the property is located because: ITEM05/1 3. The variance will not alter the character of the area adjacent to the property, will not impair the use of adjacent conforming property, and will not impair the purpose of the regulations of the zoning district in which the property is located because: Elaine Ramirez Executive Liaison Jeffery Bowen Chairman forITEM05/2 ITEM05/3 ITEM05/4 ITEM05/5 ITEM05/6 ITEM05/7 Variance case C15-2026-0021, examples of covered parking near 2101 Arpdale 1 ITEM05/8 2 ITEM05/9 3 ITEM05/10 4 ITEM05/11 BOA GENERAL REVIEW COVERSHEET CASE: C15-2026-0021 BOA DATE: Monday, June 8th, 2026 ADDRESS: 2101 Arpdale St OWNER: George Siddall COUNCIL DISTRICT: 5 AGENT: N/A ZONING: SF-3 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 1-2 BLK 9 RABB INWOOD HILLS VARIANCE REQUEST: LDC 25-2-492, setback requirements for a street side setback of 15 feet (required) to 0 feet (requested) SUMMARY: maintain a carport ISSUES: corner lot ZONING LAND USES Site North South East West SF-3 SF-3 SF-3 SF-3 SF-3 Single-Family Single-Family Single-Family Single-Family Single-Family NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS: Austin Independent School District Austin Neighborhoods Council Friends of Austin Neighborhoods Friends of Zilker Homeless Neighborhood Association Perry Grid 614 Preservation Austin Save our Springs Alliance South Central Coalition TNR BCP – Travis County Natural Resources Zilker Neighborhood Association ITEM05/12 May 20, 2026 George Siddall 2101 Arpdale St Austin TX, 78704 Property Description: LOT 1-2 BLK 9 RABB INWOOD HILLS Re: C15-2026-0021 Dear George, Austin Energy (AE) has reviewed your application for the above referenced property, requesting that the Board of Adjustment consider a variance(s) from LDC- 25-2-492 at address 2101 Arpdale St. https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/land_development_code?nodeId=TIT25LADE_CH 25-2ZO_SUBCHAPTER_CUSDERE_ART1GEPR_S25-2-472BOADVAAU Austin Energy does not oppose this request. Provided that any proposed or existing improvements follow Austin Energy’s Clearance and Safety Criteria, the National Electric Safety Code and OSHA requirements. Any removal or relocation of existing facilities will be at the owner’s/applicant’s expense. Please use this link to be advised of our clearance and safety requirements which are additional conditions of the above review action: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/utilities_criteria_manual?nodeId=S1AUENDECR_1 .10.0CLSARE If you require further information or have any questions regarding the above comments, please contact our office. Thank you for contacting Austin Energy. Ashleigh Woolf, Project Assistant Austin Energy Land Development 4815 Mueller Blvd Austin, TX 78741 (512) 972-8400 ITEM05/13 ITEM05/14 ITEM05/15 ITEM05/16 ITEM05/17 ITEM05/18 ITEM05/19 ITEM05/20 ITEM05/21 ITEM05/22 ITEM05/23 ITEM05/24 ITEM05/25 ITEM05/26 ITEM05/27 ITEM05/28 ITEM05/29 ITEM05/30 ITEM05/31 Re: Case C15-2026-0021 2101 Arpdale, Austin TX 78704 Board of Adjustment Agenda Item 3, June 8, 2026 To: Chair and Members of the Board of Adjustment, City of Austin On behalf of the Zoning Committee of the Zilker Neighborhood Association, I am writing to inform you that the committee is not opposed to the variance from 25-2-492 (side street setback) requested at 2101 Arpdale. Some background: Our review of this case began in March when the shade structure was cited for a violation of the “Openness of Required Yards” ordinance, 25-2-513. We approached it from the perspective of neighbors who have been asking about City regulation of shade-cloth covers, tarps, awnings, aka carport canopies, to protect cars and reduce the heat coming off of driveways. Neighbors say they are not getting clear answers from the City, and most are left with the impression that permits are not required. A few years ago, the AIA recommended revisions to the “Openness” section, making a distinction between the actual building versus "structures" that are unenclosed and detached. These shade structures are not porches or carports that are part of the house itself; they need a separate definition that acknowledges the importance of mitigating heat, along with some guidelines for safe installation. Until we have a chance to review the placement and dimensions of existing shade structures in the area, we are reluctant to refer to this one as a carport that would be subject to the same permitting as a potential garage under current code. The City is also considering other code changes that could be relevant to this case, including a reduction in the width of side street setbacks. Meanwhile, we recognize that this request presents a qualifying hardship. The findings: The case meets the necessary findings for a hardship, in that the house was built in 1950 on an unusually narrow corner lot. The house is set back only 12 feet from the side street (Ann Arbor), rather than the current code requirement of 15 feet. The driveway parking area itself conforms to code and minimizes the impervious cover on the lot, but the orientation of this side of Ann Arbor to the sun exposes the pavement to intense heat. Strict adherence to the code (either 492 or 513) appears to deny the owner the reasonable use of a shade cover for vehicles in the parking area. Throughout the neighborhood, covered but unenclosed parking is routine alongside houses, and the covers or awnings are allowed to overhang side setbacks. This minimalist shade structure does not alter the character of the area and it does not encroach on the setback from the adjacent property. Indeed, it benefits the area by noticeably lowering the heat on that side of the street. The purpose of the requirement for a 15-foot setback is not well defined in the code (either 492 or 513). It is not clear how one would measure the openness of structures, such as patio covers or driveway awnings, that may or may not be allowed under these ordinances. For 1 ITEM05/32 instance, the ordinance allows exceptions for “passive energy design,” parking areas, pools, covered porches, and landscaping, as well as solid fences and stone walls up to 8 feet high. Since the covering is supported by a basic metal frame, with no walls, screens, or enclosures, and there is no suggestion that the shade structure could be altered to add mass to the house, we are satisfied that it does not impair the purpose of either ordinance. To summarize, this variance request presents a qualifying hardship and appears to meet the other required findings, and so the ZNA Zoning Committee does not oppose the variance. Thank you for your service to the community. Drew Zerdecki Vice President of Zoning Zilker Neighborhood Association 2 ITEM05/33 ITEM05/34 ITEM05/35