This application was unanimously denied by the Board of Adjustments on December 14th, 2021. Click here to view the meeting recording.

Requested Action: The applicant is requesting a variance from the Unified Land Development Code, Article III. Division 1. Table 3-1. Property Development Standards to reduce the minimum lot size from 4,840 square feet to 3,750 square feet and reduce the minimum lot frontage from 50 feet to 37.50 feet.

Applicant: Survey1 | Cathy Fontenot

Owner: Living the Dream LLC. | Jason Bodie

Subject Property: 306 East Gulf Avenue

Background: The applicant is proposing to replat the subject property (Lots 5, 6, and 7, Block 8, George Wright Addition (1922)) into two (2) lots measuring approximately 3,750 square feet (37.50 feet by 100 feet) with a lot frontage of 37.50 feet for both lots to allow for the construction of a new residence. The proposed lots will be less than the minimum required lot size of 4,840 square feet in the SF2 zoning district. The proposed new residence will be built on Lot 1 and Lot 2 will contain the existing residence. The proposed lots will meet the height, setback, and lot coverage requirements.

The overall scale of development in this area (Old Baytown) is smaller than what is typically built today and cannot accommodate construction of single-family homes by current standards. The subject property is an older subdivision that has narrow lots measuring 2,500 square feet (25 feet by 100 feet). Research shows that many of the properties in this subdivision are nonconforming. Residential structures and accessory structures have been built across property lines to accommodate larger single-family homes.