HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPPLICATION - Hackworth - 241 Steiner - Variance for Driveway into BackyardAPPLICATION FOR VARIANCE
CITY OF REXBURG
APPLICANT and OWNER:
Name: Allen and Loni Hackworth
Address: 43 Ponderosa
City: Rexburg State: Idaho Phone: 356 6069
PROPERTY COVERED BY PERMIT:
Address: 241 Steiner Avenue, Rexburg, Idaho
Legal Description (Lot, Block, Addition, Division Number):
Commencing at a point 247.5 feet north and 177 feet west of the southeast
corner of block 6 of the southend addition to the City of Rexburg as per the
recorded plat thereof, and running thence north 132 feet; thence west 70.5 feet;
thence south 49.5 feet; thence west 91.5 feet; thence south 19 feet; thence east
7 feet; thence south 63.5 feet; thence east 155 feet.
NATURE OF REQUEST: Briefly explain why variance is required:
Our property is used as a triplex. We have room for two apartments to park in
the front using the double garage and driveway. The tenants from the third
apartment, the basement, must park in the double garage in the back, but the
access driveway along the side of our house is only 9 feet wide. We have been
using this access to our back garage for the past 25 years.
Our request is (1) to allow the basement tenants to use this side driveway
for access to the back garage, or
(2) to allow our basement tenants to park on the side lawn in our front yard,
or
(3) to allow 1.3 parking spaces per apartment. If permission is granted for
number one, we will pave the driveway next spring. If permission is granted for
number two, we will pave the sidelawn next spring. If permission is granted for
number three, no remodeling is needed.
Existing use of property: Apartment Triplex.
Proposed use if different from existing: No change.
Arguments for granting the Variance
The need for a variance results from physical limitations of the lot upon
which the variance is requested which are not generally applicable to
other properties in the same zone.
The limitations of our property can be seen with the enclosed photos.
2. Failure to approve a variance will result in undue hardship.
It will cost us the rent from one apartment ($450) per month. We need this
income to meet our expenses.
3. The alleged hardship has not been created by the action of the applicant
of the property owner.
After the flood in 1976, my wife and I built a home at 241 Steiner Avenue. We
raised five children there, and we enjoyed this location for many years. Little by
little, however, our neighborhood changed from single-family dwellings to
apartments. We see this change as a natural consequence of living near the
BYUI campus, but the changes have caused our home to lose value as a single-
family dwelling. Why would any family looking for permanence move to this
location when they could just as easily move into an exclusively residential area?
To help one understand how dramatic the changes have been in our
neighborhood, consider what has happened within a block and a half radius of
our home. The following sold their homes, and their homes have been converted
into apartments: Owen Walker, Mitch Loveland, Evaline Tibbits, Cline Curtis, Gil
Shirley, Diane Murray, and Mr. Mecham.
Additionally, while living on Steiner Avenue, the following large apartments have
been built: Eight units over our back fence to the east, an apartment next to Alan
Dunn's home, two apartments on Jim and Gil Shirley's property, the Frank Jenkin
Atlantis Apartments, and a large complex now being built by Val Christiansen,
Richard Horner, and Rick Wadholm.
This pattern of change continues as one reaches out to a two and three block
radius from our home. We now live in Apartment Ville. Again, this has adversely
affected our home as a single-family dwelling.
We have tried to cope with this change by (1) moving into a new home in a
modest, protected -covenant community, and by (2) converting our home on
Steiner Avenue into a triplex for young -married students; hence our request to
continue using our side driveway for access to our back garage.
No one in Rexburg has been adversely affected over the past 25 years because
we have used our side lawn for access to our back garage. But Loni and I will be
adversely affected by P and Z denying us the right to use our driveway for
access into our backyard.
Although no one person is to blame for the loss of our single-family
neighborhood, several people have been hurt by the loss. Cory Knapp is now
advertising his home for sell. I was told that Craig Frisby is considering selling.
And I know that Kay and Norma Perrounoud would move if they could afford it.
Teresa Christianson just moved to Sugar City to escape our apartment -dwelling
neighborhood. Mrs. Zmoos just moved, and the place where she lived has been
beefed up for more students. Fred and Shirley Calder are troubled by the
changes and are studying what to do. Peter and Mary Ivy recently moved to get
away from the apartments. Across from Alan Dunn, Mr. And Mrs. Jepson sold
their home, and it is now a rental. Although Alan Dunn moved because of his
job, he also wanted to move because of the changes in the neighborhood. Once
the Wadholm project is well underway, Rick and Beryl will move to a residential
neighborhood. And of course, the Hackworths have moved.
In summary, because our area has increasingly shifted to apartment dwellings,
because our home has lost its attractiveness as a single family dwelling, because
no one in our neighborhood even cares or notices if our basement renters drive
on our side lawn for access to the back garage, and because we traditionally
have used our side lawn for access to our back garage for the past 25 years, we
request permission for a variance to continue this use. This then gives us
parking for three apartments.
4. Approval of the variance is not in conflict with public interest.
Approval will actually be in the public interest. Because of a temporary
agreement with the city, we currently have three apartments rented.' Last night at
a wedding reception, I talked to my former neighbor, Fred Calder. He said, "Boy,
the neighborhood is surely quiet these days since you moved." In other words,
Fred (he is right across the street from our house) hardly notices the comings
and goings of my young -married students.
By using our back garage for parking, my renters get a good spot for their cars.
They are off the street. The current parking arrangements on our dead-end
street leave the neighborhood non congested and tidy.
o2,
Signature of Applicant Date
xx xx
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Fee: Date Paid: NOV 25 W
Paid By: Check Cash - Other
Date of Notice: Hearing: P&Z XB U R G
Council