>> AT THIS TIME, I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. [Zoning Board of Adjustments on December 6, 2023.] [00:00:05] IT'S A REGULAR MEETING. IT IS 03:30 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE SIXTH, 2023. ATTENDANCE, PLEASE. >> BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA. >>HERE. >> CHAIRPERSON GERD,. >> HERE. >> BOARD MEMBER HOLLOWAY. >> HERE. >> BOARD MEMBER, RAYLEIGH,. >> BOARD MEMBERS, TYLER,. >> BOARD MEMBER, FAGAN. >> HERE. >> BOARD MEMBER SCOVILLE. >> HERE. >> EX OFFICIAL, FRANKLY. >> PRESENT. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE ALL HERE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. HASN'T IT? BEEN SINCE SEPTEMBER, SINCE WE'VE ACTUALLY MET? TRUE. [BACKGROUND] VERY TRUE. THE NEXT ITEM IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO. ANYONE HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THE CASE HERE TODAY? >> NO. >> MOVING ON. WE'RE AT THE POINT OF WE HAVE TO DO THIS ONCE A YEAR FOR THE ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON. I THINK EVERYONE HAS THE PROCEDURES IN FRONT OF THEM. THEN I GUESS AT THIS TIME THEN WE'LL OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR. >> I NOMINATE. MR. KENT CHAIR. >> HAVE A NOMINATION FOR ME. ROBERT GARMENT. GARMENTS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? >> I NOMINATE A BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA. >> WE DO HAVE A NOMINATION FOR BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA. IS THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? AT THIS TIME THEN I GUESS I CAN CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR AND WE'LL CALL FOR AN ELECTION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS, CATHERINE? >> LET ME LOOK AT WHAT THE RULES SAY. WE'VE DONE THAT. [BACKGROUND] NOMINATIONS. YES. THEN WE HAVE A MOTION FOR AN ELECTION. SO WE'VE GOTTEN A MOTION FOR AN ELECTION AND WE NEEDED A SECOND ON ON THAT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AN ELECTION. >> JUST MAKE MY NOTES. >> IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE IN ORDER IN WHICH THE CAMP CANDIDATES ARE NOMINATED. >> YOU'D CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE FIRST CANDIDATE, WHICH WAS ROBERT GERT. >> WOULD I STILL BE ABLE TO VOTE OR NO? >> YES. >> WASHINGTON CHAIR, EX OFFICIALS VOTE OR NOT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> I GUESS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ROBERT GERT AS CHAIR. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I'LL POST [LAUGHTER]. >> WILL PUT HIS STEPSON. >> ONE OF THE TENSION. THAT WAS 1,2,3,4. THEREFORE FOR ONE ABSTENTION AT THIS TIME THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO. WELL, THEN THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO START THIS OVER AGAIN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING FOR THE VICE CHAIR. HOW ABOUT THAT? >> WE'VE PRACTICED. >> NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. >> MR. CHAIR? >> YES. >> I NOMINATE BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA. >> BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA. SORRY. IS THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THOSE NOMINATIONS AND THERE DOESN'T HE? >> I MADE FOR ELECTION, RIGHT TO SAY THAT? >> YOU ACCEPT? >> I DO. >> VERY GOOD. [00:05:01] >> THERE WAS A MOTION FOR ELECTION BY SUSAN SILOS, SECONDED BY BARBARA RALLY. WE'RE READY FOR THE VOTE ON THE BY STREAM. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF BOARD MEMBER BUTT CAVA FOR VICE-CHAIR, RAISE YOUR HAND. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. >> WE GOT THAT OVER, THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. LET'S GO BACK. NEXT, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER THE SIXTH OF 2023. >> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? ARE THE ITERATOR EVEN NEED TO BE? >> I'LL SECOND. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. THEN ALL IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. UNANIMOUS. PUBLIC COMMENT. >> NO PUBLIC COMMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. >> MOVING DOWN NEW BUSINESS AND ASSOCIATED PUBLIC HEARINGS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE CASE TODAY. I'M SORRY. >> THE CHAIR SHOULD BE ASKING THE AUDIENCE FOR ANY COMMENTS THAT OR DON'T HAVE IT HEARING. >> SURE. IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, WHICH IS TO SPEAK, YOU COULD ASK. >> DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHES TO SPEAK [BACKGROUND] ON ANY GENDER AND MOUNTED? NOW A NEW BUSINESS. >> CASE NUMBER 230007 IS 51 24 AVENUE 0.5. IT'S A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE ON LOT AREA. PUBLIC NOTICES SENT WERE 2070 RETURNED. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM ARTICLE 3 ADDENDUM IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL, SINGLE-FAMILY ONE LOAD ZONING LOT AREA FROM 2,500 SQUARE FEET TO 1,500 SQUARE FEET. THE LAW CURRENTLY HOLDS TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES, THE PRIMARY DWELLING FACING THE STREET AND ACCESSORY DWELLING FACING THE ALLEY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT AREA TO 1,900 SQUARE FEET FOR THE PROPOSED REAR LOT ONLY, POST FRONT LOT WILL BE OVER 2,500 SQUARE FEET. THE LAW IS CURRENTLY 50 FEET WIDE AND 200 FEET LONG, WHICH IS TYPICAL DENVER RESURVEY. THE PROPOSAL WILL RESULT IN A REAR LOT OF 1,900 SQUARE FEET CONTAINING ONE DWELLING AND A FRONT LOT FACING AVENUE, 0.5 OF APPROXIMATELY 4,100 SQUARE FEET. PLEASE NOTE THE AREA REQUIREMENTS REQUESTED VARIANCE, THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND THE APPLICANTS JUSTIFICATION IN YOUR STAFF REPORT AND WE HAVE SOME PICTURES. THIS IS THE PROPOSAL. ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS THE CURRENT CONDITION AND THE PROPOSED NEW CONFIGURATION IS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. THEN ON THE NEXT SCREEN WE HAVE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND THEN THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND PIN THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. >> THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? YES. >> CATHERINE, THE ONLY POINT TO ANSWER TODAY, IF I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, IS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THE LOT SIZE THAT THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE 2,500 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM. IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE TODAY. >> THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? [BACKGROUND]. >> OR THE OWNERS? >> HOW LONG AGO WAS IT? I DON T KNOW THAT INFORMATION OFF HAND LOOKING AT THE PHOTO, SOMETIME AGO, PROBABLY THE EARLY 1900S, BUT THE APPLICANTS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. MAKE AN ADDRESS THAT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? AT THIS TIME, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT WHAT? >> 03:40. >> 03:40 P.M. AND IS THE APPLICANT HERE? THE APPLICANT? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? >> I'M SORRY. MY APOLOGIES. >> GO AHEAD. [BACKGROUND] [00:10:10] >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE HEARD TODAY. MY NAME IS READ NELSON. I AM A REALTOR HERE IN GALVESTON WITH TOM SHWINK AND COWELL BANKER. THESE ARE MY CLIENTS, CHRIS AND JESSICA IVY. THEY MOVED TO THE ISLAND IN MAY. THEIR JOB WHICH THEY WOULDN'T DESCRIBE IT AS A JOB, BUT WHAT THEY DO IS THEY THEY RESTORE HOMES. THEY DON'T COME IN AND FLIP, THEY DON'T TRY TO GET AS MUCH OF A PROFIT AS THEY CAN BY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS AND SUCH. THEY DON'T GO BUY EVERYTHING AT HOME DEPOT. THEY CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HERE IS THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO DEVELOP MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE ON THE ISLAND. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO THAT IS BY HAVING PROPERTIES LIKE THIS THAT HAVE A REAR STRUCTURE TO IT THAT OFF STREET PARKING IS PROVIDED FOR FROM THE ALLEY AND THEY CAN SELL THEM CHEAPER AS TWO PROPERTIES THAN THEY CAN AS ONE PROPERTY. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE PRIOR SLIDE? YES. YOU'LL SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN, THE PROPERTY IS HIGHLIGHTED. THE PROPERTY JUST TO THE LEFT OR WEST OF THAT PROPERTY HAS EXACTLY THE SAME VARIANCE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY. THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THIS. IN ALL FAIRNESS, THE ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE PROPERTY TO THE WEST OF US DOES HAVE STREET ACCESS TO THE REAR STRUCTURE. BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAD ONE OF THESE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. IF THERE IS OFF ALLEY PARKING FOR THE STRUCTURE IN THE REAR, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TYPICALLY LOOKS AT THOSE THE SAME WAY AS IF THEY HAD STREET ACCESS. WE DO HAVE OFF ALLEY ACCESS TO THE REAR STRUCTURE, REALLY PROBABLY ENOUGH FOR AT LEAST TWO CARS TO BE PARKED BACK THERE. BUT THE THING THAT I WANTED THE BOARD TO KNOW INITIALLY IS THIS VARIANCE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR, ACCORDING TO WHAT THE CITY TOLD US. BUT I'D LIKE FOR JESSICA AND CHRIS TO FILL YOU'LL IN ON WHAT IT IS THEY DO, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND WHAT THEY ENVISIONED TRYING TO DO HERE ON THE ISLAND GOING FORWARD. >> HELLO EVERYONE. I'M JESSICA AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND CHRIS. WE NEED SUPPLIER NAME. WE PUT THEM SEPARATELY OR AS ONE. >> PUT THEM TOGETHER. THAT'S FINE. >> OKAY. >> THIS ONE. >> WE STARTED OUT RESTORING HOUSES ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO MULTIUNIT. WE LEFT TEXAS FOR THREE YEARS AND WE WERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT, WHERE MY HUSBAND IS FROM. I LASTED THREE YEARS AND BEG TO COME BACK TO TEXAS [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE IT'S SO COLD. BUT WE DID LARGE VICTORIANS UP THERE AND WHEN WE CAME BACK TO TEXAS, WE DECIDED TO COME TO GALVESTON BECAUSE WE LOVE IT HERE. WE PURCHASED A HOUSE WITH A CARRIAGE HOUSE AND THE BACK. WE WERE GOING TO STAY THERE FOREVER, BUT I CALLED BECAUSE WE WANTED TO INVEST IN ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT MAYBE WE COULD DIVIDE. THERE WAS A BIT OF MISUNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE, ON MY PART WHEN I CALL THE CITY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT I COULD SUB-DIVIDE IT. BUT THEN AFTER WE PURCHASED IT, I WAS TOLD THAT WE CAN'T BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CONFUSION. WE NOW OWN THIS PROPERTY AND OUR GOAL WAS TO SUB-DIVIDE IT AND MAKE THE BACK HOUSE AFFORDABLE RANGE THAT WE COULD SELL, BUT MAKE IT VERY CUTE. WHEN WE GOT INTO THE BACK HOUSE, WE DISCOVERED TERMITES VERY BAD. I BROUGHT PHOTOS. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GIVE THEM TO YOU TO LOOK AT, BUT [OVERLAPPING]. I JUST FEEL THE NEED TO INTERRUPT AND I DON'T TYPICALLY DO THIS. BUT THE COMMISSIONS, WHAT THEY'RE BOUND TO RECEIVE AND HERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT MAKE THIS REQUEST FOR VARIANCE UNIQUE. [00:15:08] IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY'RE TERMITES IN THE PROPERTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS WELCOME TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES, BUT THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN YOUR DESCRIPTION AS TO WHY THIS IS NECESSARY. WHAT IS THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MAKES THIS UNNECESSARY DIVISION? I'VE READ A COUPLE OF THINGS IN YOUR NARRATIVE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO EXPRESS BECAUSE THIS IS BEING RECORDED. >> SURE. WITH THE PROPERTY, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY, MY HUSBAND MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION. IS THE FRONT HOUSE WHERE THE 2,500 WITH LAND WOULD CUT THAT BACKOFF, WHICH HAS A BEDROOM IN IT, WHICH ALLOWS IT TO BE A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE, WHICH I THINK IS NEEDED. IT'S A LARGER HOME FOR A FAMILY, BUT STILL IN THE AFFORDABLE BRACKET. IT'S NOT A THREE BEDROOM OR TWO, IT'S GOT FOUR WHICH IS QUITE LARGE. FOR US TO MOVE THAT LINE UP, WE WOULD HAVE TO TEAR DOWN THAT BACK ADDITION OFF OF THE HOUSE. THEY ACTUALLY BUILT AN ADDITION ON THE PORCH IN THE BACK. IT'S NOT AS NICE AS THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. IF WE HAD TO, WE COULD TEAR IT DOWN, BUT WE CAN MAKE IT NICE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD BE A BEDROOM. I FEEL THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO SAVE THE LAYOUT OF THE PROPERTY. IF YOU MOVE THAT LINE IN AND GET RID OF THOSE BACK STAIRS, IT JUST BECOMES TIGHT AND NOT COMFORTABLE. WHEREAS BALANCED RIGHT THERE. IT'S A LOT MORE SPACE FOR A FAMILY SO THEY COULD HAVE ROOM AND BE HAPPY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> NOT RIGHT NOW? >> WE HAVE A WOMAN IN TOWN WHO'S LOOKING AT IT AND SHE'S ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES. SHE OWNS A C2 KNOWS FORGIVE ME IF I SAY THAT WRONG ON BROADWAY, THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT. SHE'S SO SWEET, BUT SHE CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE FOR HER AND HER SON. SHE'S WORKING FIRST SHIFT TO A TWO-NODE SECOND SHIFT IT TEQUILAS AND SHE NEEDS SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE $200,000. SHE CAME OVER, SHE LOOKED AT THIS ONE IN OUR OTHER ONE THERE IN HER PRICE BRACKET AND ANYTHING ELSE IN GALVESTON THAT'S IN THE 200,000 IS GUTTED. YOU CAN'T GET A BANK LOAN FOR IT BECAUSE BANKS WON'T GIVE YOU A RENAULT LOAN. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HOUSE THAT THEY CAN MOVE IN AND IS LIVABLE IN ORDER TO SELL IT. WE COULD SELL THIS TO FLIPPERS FIXER UPPERS, BUT THERE'S TERMITE DAMAGE. IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THE HOUSE OF FLIPPERS GOING TO PUT DRYWALL OVER IT. I MEAN, THIS HOUSE POTENTIALLY IS GOING TO BE LOST BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALLOWED TO SUBMIT THESE. >> THE REASON I'M SHOWING THIS IS BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE WHEN WE PULLED THE DRYWALL OFF. THE HOUSE HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS THE BACK HOUSE. THE FRONT HOUSE IS IN GOOD CONDITION, WOULD WISE SOMEONE TOOK CARE OF IT BECAUSE THEY WERE LIVING IN IT. THE BACK HOUSE WAS JUST REALLY NEGLECTED. YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE ONCE WE TOOK THE DRYWALL OFF, UNEXPOSED IT. I JUST FEEL LIKE IF WE COULD DIVIDE THIS OFF, WE CAN CELL THE FRONT HOUSE TO SOMEONE AND IT'S STILL GONNA BE A LOWER COST EFFICIENT HOUSE. BUT THE BACK HOUSE IS GONNA BE A FIXER UPPER AND WE CAN HELP THEM. BUT A FIXER UPPER THAT THEY CAN MOVE IN AND GET A BANK LOAN FOR BECAUSE IT'S LIVABLE, IT WILL PASS THE BANK STANDARDS. IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SOMEWHERE I THINK I READ THESE HOMES WERE BUILT IN THE 30S. IS THAT RIGHT? >> I CAN'T BELIEVE SO JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHIP LAP WALLS. THEY HAVE SHIPPED LAP WALLS AND CEILINGS, WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL. >> THE WRECK, THE REGULATION SEEMED TO MAKE SENSE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING BUILT TODAY BUT THAT DON'T SEEM TO REALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR THIS IN ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THESE WERE BUILT BEFORE? >> YEAH. THESE WERE LIKE MOTHER-IN-LAW APARTMENTS AND THAT THE OLD SCHOOL WHERE THE FAMILY AS THEY AGE OR THE CHILDREN AS THEY GROW AND GET MARRIED AND THEY MOVE IN THE BACK. THAT THAT IS WHY VICTORIANS HAVE THE LITTLE THIRD STORY APARTMENT AND THESE HAD THEIR CARRIAGE HOUSE APARTMENTS. [00:20:06] WELL, I GUESS THEY'RE NOT CARRIAGE GARAGE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT NEED IS THE SAME AS IT WAS BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T OFTEN LIVE WITH THEIR KIDS ANYMORE LIKE THEY USED TO. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE CARRIAGE HOUSE APARTMENTS IS THEY'RE BECOMING AIRBNBS FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY COMES TO VISIT EVERY SO OFTEN. THEY'RE NOT THERE ALL THE TIME. WE ARE NOT IN THE MOOD TO BECOME LANDLORDS. WE JUST AREN'T, A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T INTERESTED IN BECOMING LANDLORDS. THESE BACK HOUSES, YOU EITHER RENT LONG-TERM OR YOUR AIRBNB THEM. BUT IF WE COULD SELL IT TO A FAMILY LIKE JIMMY, THEN IT BECOMES A HOME. IT'S JUST WE'RE TRYING THIS IS OUR THINKING WITH THESE HOUSES AND PROPERTIES. BUT WE DON'T JUST READ SAID, WE DON'T JUST SLAP THEM TOGETHER. I MEAN, WE REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE HIGH-END LIGHTING. I MEAN, THEY'RE VERY NICE. WE HAVE A $7,000 STOVE THAT WE JUST PLOPPED IN THERE. IT'S SOMETHING SPECIAL SO THAT THEY FEEL LIKE PROUD OF THEIR HOME AND HAPPY IN IT. THE AUSTIN AUSTIN DRIVE. PROPERTY, WE PUT THE ITALIAN WALLPAPER IN IT AND TILE SHOWER. REALLY BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. >> I DON'T WANT TO TALK TOO MUCH. >> [LAUGHTER] DON'T WORRY. >> YES, SIR. WELL, CURRENTLY HE HAS ALL HIS TOOLS THERE. THE LOWER GARAGE ACTUALLY HAS A BEDROOM, AND A SHOWER, AND A BATHROOM IN IT. [BACKGROUND] YES, SIR. WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S SOMETIMES THE PREVIOUS OWNER. WE HAVE HEARD THAT HE RENTED TO EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND HE HAD THE FRONT HOUSE CHOPPED UP IN PROBABLY FIVE DIFFERENT SPACES THAT HE RENTED OUT. IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL AND IT WAS ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE BUILDING AND THE BACK HOUSE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HOMEOWNERS AND THEY DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY DIDN'T SPRAY FOR TERMITES AND SO THERE IS A BEDROOM DOWNSTAIRS, [BACKGROUND]. CORRECT. NOW, WE COULD WE COULD ADD A CARPORT OR GARAGE AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO DO. [OVERLAPPING]. >> IT'S NOT ALL RIGHT. >> ARE YOU GOOD? DAVID. >> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR LEGAL COUNSEL. QUESTION. CAN WE CONSIDER PREVIOUS HISTORY OF EXAMPLES OF WHERE THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE CITY RELATED AS RELATED TO THIS? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THE PURVIEW OF THESE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT A PROPERTY AND EITHER RECOLLECT OR KNOW OF OR PRESENTED WITH INFLAMMATION OF THE SAME SITUATION. GALVESTON IS A UNIQUE CITY IN GENERAL. WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT ARE COMPARABLE, THE COMMISSION CAN TAKE THAT INTO THEIR PURVIEW OR WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT COMPARABLE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD BE THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WILL ALLOW A VARIANCE TO BE GRANTED. >> THANK YOU. >> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICANT? >> DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO STATE ANYTHING ELSE. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION [INAUDIBLE]. >> IT'S ABOUT 85% SALVAGEABLE. THE WOOD IS GOOD. THE TERMITES, THEY GROW UPWARD. WE JUST SPENT $1,700 TO HAVE SPECIAL TREATMENT DONE IN THE GROUND. SO NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO SAVE THIS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO SAVE THE NEIGHBORS TOO BECAUSE THEY STARTED RENOVATION ON THE LOT BESIDE US, WHICH HAS THE SAME EXACT HOUSE THAT THEY DID THE VARIANCE BEFORE ON AND IT'S LITERALLY THE SAME EXACT BUILT. THEY STARTED RENAULT WHEN WE DID, THEY STOPPED. [00:25:01] WE THINK THEY'VE RUN INTO TERMITES AND JUST GAVE UP. BUT MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. >> WE TOOK ALL THE SHEET-ROCK OFF, AND EXPOSED ALL THE TERMITES. >> ONCE YOU KILL THEM, YOU CAN GO IN AND SISTER BEAMS SISTER WOULD WHERE TERMITES HAVE GOTTEN AND SINCE ONE TERMITE TREATMENT LAST SIX MONTHS, THEN YOU PAY AGAIN $1,700 AND WE'LL DO THAT UNTIL THEY'RE DEAD, THEY SHOULD BE DEAD NOW. BUT IT IT SAYS STIRRING OF BEAMS AND BREE, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS AS STRONG AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS BUILT. >> I'M GOING TO STOP THERE. THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DECIDE TODAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? >> I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION. >> SURE. >> AS A POINT OF COMPARISON, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO PICK UP THE FRONT HOUSE AND MOVE IT AS CLOSE TO THE STREET, AVENUE, 0.5 AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO FREE UP? THIS IS JUST A POINT OF COMPARISON, TO FREE UP MORE OF THE BACKYARD FOR A MORE EQUITABLE SPLIT ON THE PARCEL? >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN IDEA. WE'VE NOT GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE ON LIFTING A HOUSE IN THIS SIMILAR SIZE WHICH WAS AROUND 60,000. THAT'S OKAY IF THE HOUSE TOO, THAT ADDITIONAL PARKING UNDERNEATH. >> THAT'S AN INCLUDE BEAMS. >> NOW IT'S JUST THE LIFTING OF IT. WELL, THIS IS A APPEAR ON BEAM IS PARENT BEAM. >> YES. >> IT'S OFF THE GROUND AND IT'S RIGHT. BUT I'M NOT SURE. WE'RE NOT REALLY LOOKED INTO THAT. >> HOPEFULLY THE VALUE OF HALF OF THE HOUSE. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY, IT WAS ABOUT 260 FOR THE WHOLE PROPERTY WAS IN HORRIBLE CONDITION. THERE'S A GAPING HOLE IN THE BATHROOM FLOOR SUNLIGHT IN THE KITCHEN BEHIND THE SINK, THERE'S MOLD GROWING UP. >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE IF I'M LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO GRANTING THIS VARIANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ALL THE OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT THAT BREAK POINT IS, THE PRICE POINT ON DOING SOMETHING ELSE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANTS. LOOKING AT THE SURVEY, WHAT WOULD BE THE, LET ME REPHRASE THAT. CAN SOMEONE ACCESS THE BACKYARD FROM THE FRONT FROM AVENUE 0.5? IF THE PERSON RESIDING IN THE FRONT HOUSE, IT'S PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAN IT BE ACCESSED? CAN IT BE ACCESS NOW? >> IT CAN'T BE THERE'S A FULL DRIVEWAY, CONCRETE ALL THE WAY BACK FROM THE STREET TO THE GARAGE. >> IF SOMEBODY PARKS THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. >> PARKED TWO CARS CURRENTLY. >> WITHOUT MOVING THE CARS, THEY CAN JUST DRIVE AROUND THEM TO GET TO THAT HOUSE? >> NO, YOU CAN'T. IT'S TOO NARROW TO GET THROUGH VEHICLES SIDE-BY-SIDE. >> YOU'D HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> IT HAS ALLEY ACCESS. >> I'M SORRY. >> IT HAS ALLEY ACCESS. >> IT DOES IT DOES HAVE ALL THE ACCESS. IT'S A CHAIN LINK FENCE THERE RIGHT NOW AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE PROBLEM. YOU COULDN'T PARK A CAR BACK ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY UNLESS YOU PARKED IN THE ALLEY. >> NOW, WE HAVE TO MOVE THE STAIRS AND THEN IT CREATES TWO PARKING SPACES ALL THE WAY IN WHICH I CHECKED WITH THE CITY BEFORE WE DID THIS TO MAKE SURE THE MEASUREMENTS WERE RIGHT FOR THE PARKING THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE WITH THE HOUSE FOR TWO CARS. THAT'S THE PROPOSED SURVEY ON THE RIGHT. >> QUESTION. IS THAT FRONT AND BACK PARKING? I MEAN, LIKE ONE AFTERNOON IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. >> YES. >> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> NO. I WAS JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE PARKING IS WHEN THE SHADED AREA IS ON THE WEST PARKING. >> NOW WE DID PLAY AROUND WITH THIS SURVEY. ORIGINALLY WE DID A FLAGPOLE AND IT REALLY RUIN THE FRONT HOUSE. IT TOOK UP THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE AND BARELY WENT BACK AND JUST BARELY GAVE A YARD TO THE BACK LITTLE HOUSE. THE FLAGPOLE WAS NOT AN OPTION. WE FELT LIKE THIS WAS SPACE WISE, A HEALTHIER DIVIDE BECAUSE THAT WAY, IF THEY HAVE A PET, THEY BOTH CAN HAVE GRASS AREA. THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF GRASS AREA LEFT WITH THIS OPTION. [00:30:04] WHEREAS THE OTHER OPTION WOULD PUT TWO PARKING SPACES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING THEIR CONCRETING THE WHOLE FRONT YARD. WE PLANTED PALM TREES IN THE FRONT YARD INSTEAD BECAUSE WE WANTED STREET APPEAL. THIS HOUSE WAS VERY UNATTRACTIVE. WE HAVE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF COSMETICS TO THE FRONT AND LANDSCAPING. >> DO YOU KNOW IF THE HOMES ARE ON SEPARATE UTILITY SYSTEMS? >> THEY ARE ON SEPARATE UTILITIES EXCEPT FOR WATER. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $3,500 TO HAVE A SECOND WATER METER. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NOW WE'RE STILL HERE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? ANYONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME, THEN I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE ZONING BOARD FOR A MOTION. IF I MAKE A MOTION, DO I HAVE TO READ ALL OF THIS? >> YOU DO. >> YOU DO. >> AGAIN? [LAUGHTER] JUST CHECKING. I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMETHING IS CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME. MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL DUE TO THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT EXIST ON THE PROPERTY THAT DO NOT GENERALLY EXIST ON OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT. THAT SPECIAL CONDITION IS THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES ON THE PARCEL PROPOSED TO BE SUB-DIVIDED PREVENTS CONFORMANCE WITH LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ARC ZONE EAST OF 61ST STREET. DUE TO THAT SPECIAL CONDITION, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE STRICT TERMS OF THESE REGULATIONS WOULD IMPOSE AN UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP ON THE APPLICANT. THE VARIANCE IS NOT CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC INTERESTS IN THAT THE HARDSHIP IS NOT SELF-IMPOSED. THE HARDSHIP IS NOT BASED SOLELY ON FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS, CONVENIENCE, OR INCONVENIENCE. THERE ARE NOT CONDITIONS THAT ARE ALLEGED TO BE SPECIAL BUT ARE ACTUALLY COMMON TO MANY PROPERTIES WITHIN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT. THE REQUESTED VARIANCE DOES NOT HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT UPON THE CURRENT OR FUTURE USE OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES FOR PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY ARE ZONED. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR SERVICES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND MORALS, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY. THE DEGREE OF VARIANCE ALLOWED FROM THESE REGULATIONS IS THE LEAST THAT IS NECESSARY TO GRANT RELIEF FROM THE IDENTIFIED UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP. THE VARIANCE WILL NOT BE USED TO CIRCUMVENT OTHER PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS OF THESE REGULATIONS THAT COULD BE USED FOR THE SAME OR COMPARABLE EFFECT. BY GRANTING THE VARIANCE, THE SPIRIT OF THESE REGULATIONS IS OBSERVED AND SUBSTANTIAL JUSTICE IS DONE. AMEN. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. [LAUGHTER] >> NOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. >> THANK YOU, COUNSELOR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE ONE THAT I THINK IS MOST APPLICABLE HERE. FOR APPROVAL IS THAT THERE ARE NOT CONDITIONS THAT ARE ALLEGED TO BE SPECIAL, BUT ARE ACTUALLY COMMON TO MANY PROPERTIES WITHIN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT. WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS GALVESTON, THE URBAN CITY NOT FAR OUT WEST, WE FIND THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS QUITE A BIT, AND SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS WELL IN THE PROCESS OF A RE-PLOT. I THINK THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO DIVERSIFY IN THE HOUSING STOCK THAT IS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH IS A VERY BIG NEED. THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO COME. THANK YOU. >> ALSO, I'D LIKE TO REMIND US THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, WE'VE APPROVED TWO OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THERE WERE LARGE LOTS THAT HAD SEVERAL HOUSES ON THEM AND WE ALLOWED THEM TO BE SUB-DIVIDED AND THEY WERE HOUSES THAT WERE BUILT PRIOR TO ANY ZONING THAT WAS THE CITY HAD. [00:35:02] IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME SITUATION. >> ANY COMMENT? >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT ARE EX-OFFICIAL COUNCIL PERSON SAID ABOUT PRECEDENT, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ON PLANNING COMMISSION, NOT WHEN HE WASN'T SURE. I WASN'T PLANNING COMMISSION, WE DID ENTERTAIN THESE DIVISIONS OF LOTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SMALLER PARCELS THAT DON'T ALWAYS CONFORM TO LOT SIZE. THAT'S ONLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT PARKING AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT ACCESS, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT OUR CHARGE IS TODAY IS TO LOOK AT THE LOT SIZE. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE SMALLER LOT WILL BE 1,900 SQUARE FEET VERSUS THE 2,500 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM REQUIREMENT. I THINK IS JUSTIFIED IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. THANK YOU. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? BARBARA. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CATHERINE. WHAT WOULD BE THE ADDRESS OF THAT HOME IN THE BACK? >> ADDRESSES ARE GRANTED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE APPLICANTS INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO GET AN ADDRESS BEFORE IT GOES TO GET PLOTTED AT PLANNING COMMISSION. IT'LL HAVE AN ADDRESS. >> OR THEIR OTHER PROPERTIES IN GALVESTON THAT ARE ADDRESSED WITH AN ALLEY ADDRESS? >> YES. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON. >> PUT YOUR HAND DOWN. YOU CAN'T TALK ANYMORE. THANK YOU. >> SOMETIMES THEY CARRY THE SAME ADDRESS AS THE FRONT THERE JUST INDICATED AS REAR, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL ADDRESS, BUT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A ALLEY-ONLY ADDRESS. >> EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO DRIVEWAY ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY FROM THE FRONT AT ALL. >> IT'LL STILL BE ADDRESSED FROM 0.5. >> PERHAPS IT REALLY DOESN'T PERTAIN, BUT THERE WAS REFERENCE MADE TO THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR IN HOW THAT WENT HAD BEEN DIVIDED. BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE LINE IS ACTUALLY LONGER, WHICH WOULD GIVE THE REAR PROPERTY MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAN WHAT THIS ONE HAS. I'M SURE YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU. IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THAT REAR PROPERTY? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU GOT ME. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THEN WE DO HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY RAISING YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED AND THE MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE WERE JUST GOING TO ADJOURN. BUT EVIDENTLY. >> HE'S BEEN WAITING. >> HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR A WHILE. >> JUST TO. >> [LAUGHTER] I'LL LET YOU GO TAKE IT TO. >> BILL, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM SO WE CAN HEAR. >> YOU WANT TO DO IT. >> SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> ROLE BUDDIES. I DON'T WANT TO. NO BILL. >> OUT ON THE BOARD ANYMORE. [LAUGHTER] >> ROBERT. [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] HOW MANY OF THINGS DO YOU HAVE ALREADY? >> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. >> NO. >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN, HOW MANY YEARS OF SERVICE? >> YES. FIX IT. SAY THIS WAS HIS SECOND TIME. >> SECOND TIME. >> YES. >> NOW YOU'VE MOVED OVER TO THE PARKS FOR YOU. THANK YOU TOO BIG. [LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THIS IS MUCH MORE PLEASANT THAN I SHOULD REPHRASE THAT SINCE WE'RE ON THE RECORD. >> WE ACTUALLY GET STUFF DONE. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> WE ACTUALLY GET STUFF DONE? >> YOU DO. ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY IT'S GONE DOWN. WE WILL USUALLY GOT OUT IN 10 MINUTES WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, BILL. >> THANK YOU, BILL. >> [INAUDIBLE] HOME DEPOT. >> HOW WELL. THANK YOU. >> GOOD LUCK, EVERYBODY. I>> THANK YOU FROM THE STAFF THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN EXCELLENT BOARD MEMBER AS YOU'VE BEEN WITH US [00:40:02] TWO TIMES AND WE EXPECT YOU BACK AFTER YOUR RETIREMENT FROM THE PARK BOARD. [LAUGHTER] >> WHY THINGS ARE GOING THAT MAYBE NEXT TIME [LAUGHTER] REAPPOINT MILES DAVIS. [APPLAUSE] >> THEN WHILE WE'RE RECOGNIZING MEMBERS, WE ALSO HAVE A NEW MEMBER, BECKER SCOFIELD SERVING NOW AS AN ALTERNATE AS CAROL HOLLOWAY HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO A REGULAR MEMBER. >> THERE YOU GO [INAUDIBLE] >> WELCOME BECKER. >> I THINK THE NEXT ITEM IS 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE. >> THE SCHEDULE TO PASS OUT AND YOUR SCHEDULE IS ONCE A MONTH, TYPICALLY ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR THAT WE GET OFF THAT SCHEDULE WHERE STAFF TO THREE BOARDS AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP THEM ALL IN THE SAME WEEK. PAY ATTENTION TO THAT LITTLE ASTERISK. THAT MEANS THAT IT'S BEEN BUMPED DOWN BY WEEK. AS ALWAYS, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY CASES THEN WE WON'T HAVE A MEETING. TODAY IS THE DEADLINE, BUT SO FAR WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SUBMITTED FOR THE JANUARY MEETING. IF WE GET PAST THIS DEADLINE WITHOUT ANY CASES, KARINA WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MEETING HAS BEEN. >> ALREADY. >> CANCELED. WITH THAT, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> IF NOTHING ELSE, WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.