Title
Conduct a Public hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the request by Owner Allen Helton, to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Appeal of the Building Official’s decision regarding a violation of UDC Article 2, Section 204 V, requiring a 20-foot side yard setback on properties zoned AG-Agriculture. The applicant is requesting to construct an attached garage addition on the side of his house with a 5-foot side setback. This request is on the property located at 1820 Meadow Ranch Road, Lot 14 of Block A of the Meadow Ranch Estates Addition to the City of McKinney, Texas.
Summary
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CASE NUMBER: BOA 2025-0045
MEETING DATE: January 7, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Building Inspections
CONTACT: Suzanne Arnold, Chief Building Official
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Consider this variance request based on the applicant statement on the Board of Adjustment (BOA) application.
ZONING: AG-Agriculture
EXISTING CONDITIONS: There is an existing house on this lot with the driveway on the right side. There is also a legally existing shop building behind and to the right of the main house that has a 5-foot side setback. The house next door is approximately 55 feet from the shared property line. These are large lots, as the zoning district is AG-Agriculture.
ITEM SUMMARY: Per the applicant, they are seeking to build a garage addition on the right side of the existing house in the area where the existing driveway access is. He states that compliance with the 20-foot setback requirement would make the construction of a garage on that side impractical. He further states that the proposed garage addition would integrate with the home’s existing design, layout, and driveway access. The applicant applied for a building permit for this in September of this year, which was denied due to the setback.
VARIANCE REQUESTED:
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ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS |
VARIANCE REQUESTED |
VARIANCE |
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|
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20 ft. side setback |
5 ft. setback |
75% |
APPLICANT’S BASIS FOR VARIANCE: See description on the BOA application.
PUBLIC SUPPORT/OPPOSITION OF REQUEST: 14 letters were sent. To date, no letters of support and no letters of opposition have been submitted.
BOARD AUTHORITY:
Variances. A Variance may be approved by the Board of Adjustment to provide relief from the strict application of the zoning provisions of this Code where literal enforcement of the requirements of this Code will result in unnecessary hardship and where the Variance is necessary to develop a parcel of land that cannot otherwise be developed due to unique conditions on the property.
1. Permit a Variance to requirements of any district where there are unusual and practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships due to an irregular shape of the lot or topographical or other conditions; and
2. Authorize Variances from the strict application of this Code that are in harmony with its general purpose and intent, provided such Variance will not merely serve as a convenience to the applicant, but will alleviate some demonstrable and unusual hardship or difficulty, while at the same time, the surrounding properties will be properly protected.
BUILDING OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
The request has been field validated, and I agree that the Board has the implied authority to consider this Variance by the Applicant/Owner.
SUPPORTING MATERIALS:
BOA2025-0045 - 1820 Meadow Ranch Rd. - Packet to include:
• Application
• Application Letter
• GIS Map
• Notice Letter
• Notice Map
• Plans and Elevations
• Site Photos
• Site Plan/Survey
• Zoning Exhibit
ACTION: Approved Denied Tabled