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Permit Services <br /> TO: City Council <br /> FROM: Paul McKee,Permit Services Manager <br /> DATE: August 5, 2013 <br /> SUBJECT: Bjella Driveway Variance Request <br /> Background <br /> 512 Wetmore Avenue, owned by Mr. Clint Bjella,currently has access off of Wetmore Avenue <br /> with a single-wide driveway at approximately the mid-point of the property. Mr. Bjella plans to <br /> redevelop the property and has requested to expand the driveway to a double-wide driveway and <br /> to locate it on the southern edge of his property. <br /> Public Works denied Mr. Bjella's application for a public works permit to relocate the driveway <br /> (PW1307-001). The denial was based on the availability of access off of the open public alley <br /> behind his property and EMC 13.16.050(F)which provides: "No permit for a driveway approach <br /> shall be granted where reasonable egress and ingress, for the purpose for which the property is <br /> used, can be secured from the alley." Staff interprets this provision as prohibiting approval where <br /> alley access is practicable. <br /> Variance Request <br /> In accordance with EMC 13.16.100(A)—(D),Mr. Bjella is seeking a variance from City Council. <br /> EMC 13.16.100 provides that Council can grant a variance provided the following conditions are <br /> present: • <br /> (A)The variance requested arises from peculiar physical conditions not ordinarily existing in <br /> similar districts in the city or is due to the nature of the business or operation upon the <br /> applicant's property; <br /> (B)That the variance requested is not against the public interest,particularly safety, <br /> convenience and general welfare; <br /> (C)That the granting of the permit for the variance will not adversely affect the rights of the <br /> adjacent property owners or tenants; <br /> (D)That the terms of this chapter will work unnecessary hardship on the applicant,property <br /> owner or tenant. <br /> Staff feels that the permit denial was required by the code as currently drafted, but does not feel <br /> that the relocation and expansion of the driveway will threaten safety or present engineering <br /> concerns. Additionally,the majority of residences on the block take access off of Wetmore <br /> Avenue and not off of the alley. For these reasons, Staff recommends that Council grant the <br /> variance. <br /> • <br /> 2 <br />