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11/30/1982 . .' . t' . ',,,\ , .. rr [ ;'1 "I " fit STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS NOEL and ANN JONES, ) ) Petitioners, ) CASE NO. 92-2211 ) va. ) , ) CITY OF CLEARWATER, ) ) Respondent. ), ) FINAL ORDER Pursuant to notice, a formal hearing was held in ta the above case before the Oivision of Administrative Hearings by its duly designated Hearing Officer, DONALD R. ALEXANDER, on November 9, 1982 in Clearwate~ Florida. APPEARANCES For Petitioner: L. Noel Jones, Jr., Ir~ se 2122 Beckett Lake Dr ve Clearwater, Florida 33515 For Respondent: Thomas A. Bustin, Esquire P. O. Box 4748 Clearwater, Florida 33518 BACKGROUND By their application, Petitioners, Noel and Ann -- Jones, sought a variance to construct a six foot fence paralleling their property line along Montclair Road, at Lot 4, Block 3, Beckett Lake Estates, Clearwater, Florida. On l~ay 13, 1982, the City of Clearwater Zoning Enforcement Officer denied their request on the ground it failed to comply with Section 131.2053(d) (2), Code 2f Ordinances. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 131.033(5) (c), ~ of Ordinances, the decision was appeared on June 14, 1982 ,to the City of Clearwater Board of Adjust~nt and Appeal on Zoning. The ,,' ,. :.~.,~,,'<,Board' considered the request ,at its JU,ly 15;. 1982 meetiriq , .... . ~, . l ". " .. ~ " . same,was denied. ,... 't ' ", '.c \ ~'" . . . , D D . I, '.: e Tho instant case arises from an appeal of that docision by Petitioners on July 19, 1982 pursuant' to Section 131.0165, ~ 2! Ordinancos. Thataeotion provid.. a process for any party in interest to appeal a decision ot the Board to a Zoning Appeal Hearing Officer. Under a contractual agreement entered into by the City of Clearwater and the Division of Administrative Hearings, and authorized by Subsection 120.65(6), Florida Statutes, and Section 131.0l65(e) (1), ~ of Ordinances, the undersigned Hearing Officer was designated as Zoning Appeal Hearing Officer. The final hearing was held on November 9, 1992, in Clearwater, Florida. At the final hearing Petitioner Noel Jones testified on his own behalf and offered Petitioner's e EXhibits 1-3; all were received in evidence. Respondent presented the testimony of John Richter, Chief of the City's Planning Division, and offered Respondent's Exhibit 1 which was received in evidence. Under the terms of Section 13l.0165(c) (3), ~ 9i Ordinances, the record of the Board's meeting on July 15, 1982 has been made a part of this record. The parties were given the opportunity to file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. However, none ware filed. The issue herein is whether Petitioners' application for a variance to construct a six-foot fence on their rear e property line should be granted. Based upon the entire record, the following findinq~ of fact ,are determined: " ~'ii;a(i,ilh}::;;~;r;"/:< ':;,: , " . . " , ..' , - .,: ~'"\'~"~'.""r""~;I'''''''''''' ",' ",', (2)' " i;~~~~rt~~~/:~.J.:.::r1~ ~;:.::.~.:.~'./:.:~i~ ~:'>.' \: ;.'~. ~': . , :. .'., '.. , ',- . \ > : ~ . ~l.tf.......,....\;,)S'I~ ~... ~ . ... ....".'. . ~ . " '.. ~It ~ ,. .f ~ : . .. , t..-:r;t\Y~~t~j.~ r:~A~ i1'/~itI{.,1r~':iT.i-"'.'::~J.".i'~{.(lt,.. . ';.'>l.t,r.,.;~... ~ ,'"I f.J. . ,~. I.'.~ .'L,. p' . ~'J........:, , '.,' "', ,\'0., t'Jt\ti~i1~(~~~~f.,:{:~,;;{/:.::,,;.:;.'t;i:;~~:,:,i>i.:;;r{:':~~'~":. ',:, ?'~,:, ~:;:'::.'~':; ,,:,~, ;':' ':": ~,,<::,;: '>",'.' .'!".' :~,:~,{:f/,~~::", ~'dJ~rl#ir)y.tlJt~~:.;(ti.Lt~:~..t.. :f:".:);-\J'~b'~.~,..J.l'/~~I'1 .r...~.I:".......,,~~.... ....~,: .~.,. ,'.; . '.' ::"~I' ~"':u~.j:~f'''I..~.\~'t,.: ~ I""~""'....'\~!:... ....~~.,:;.....t;!fVr..tt. ., "~,I,I.~ (r~"'~"""'r,-l" . 'or. t' '?p ~ t ] ......I.~ ~,. J'. .'~ .r;lo . J<.,.J, ..... ...~.~ ~:,...~'~ .' ~\M;'~:-J\~(~'~\t~~;~J:1.~'~~K;t~~:,,~ :~,~."'~~.V.:'.Af.J."'~:.t" ::1 ....\.,......:..,; . ,~, ", ~r.:'...l.' ~..: ~..ll}... .~:'N~h\.-..,~l~.\.-li...~.~ . 't~R(.....(}~\if1;\ it.f~!'...!1j~~ ,.'~,'~.~-<l"....l,..;'..f~> .I~..:r~t\...,. "",,:'.:', ...... .,....:'~ .('~\....:;.'I','rf:,-:'..;h'..-~~~r', J*, .1:~~~t~;Yt~~r:~~ ..~~ t< 1!~r;) ~~~J"il~:.~i i~:r~'K1.!;~i~ ~~~~t~,~~~~:.~',~}'1 ~ l~ :' ~ ,It ..:~ ..J.: \.~ {', .:~"r ~.~, I," t Y ;:;,:;:~~ 'i~\J:~:~~ .:}~ :.t~:~... ..,j~: B n o to construot the fence. The citation precipitated the . instant case. Existing zoning regulations require that' the height of the fence on Petitioners' property be no more than four feot. Therefore, in order to erect a six foot fence, a variance from the City is required. CD 4. Petitioners desire to retain' their new fence in order to provide more privacy from a public sidewalk and street which run adjacent to their rear property line. Further, their home has been broken into on two occasions within the last year, and they believe a fence would provide more security. They also point out that the owner of Lot 6 recently obtained approval from the City to construct an identical fence on his property. Finally, Petitioners contend that the City initially approved their application, and it is unfair to now require them to tear down their fence. They have agreed to provide appropriate landscaping in conjunction with the fence. 5. The City opposes the application on the ground the new fence ,is not in conformity with the style and height of the other fence erected on Montclair Road, and would lead to multiple types of fences on the street. It also fears that if this application is approved, it will trigger similar applications from Petitioners' neighbors, and will destroy the neighborhood's aesthetic appeal and character. e CONCLUSIONS'OF LA~ 1. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction, of the subject matter arid the parties thereto pursuant to Subsection 120.65(6), Florida Statutes, and , , 'Section 131.0165, Code,of Ordinances. ~ii~;,;" (/<,',,", , 2. Section 131. 205 j ( d I (2), COd~ ofOrdinanc8s, \< \{;\~,::>\~:,:':/, '; ,:'pr~vide8in 'part as fo1lowBI .'(' ~t~l~tJ~~if~~:;;;::':I": · ' ,,' " , " ' ' , · ~llt\.~.'1' .'"I";i..;'."...!"... ',,:," " " " , (4) ""\ . . ", f,;.~!,x~){~r\\~'~,,:/~.;,?',,'-: ,..,,',"::','.,<. ",.:, ' :: ' ';,', ~ ',',.-, :': :', '., .: "..,,') , '. " , ~\~~trA1"'~ ~f..r I: 1,., l ~ .... I,. ~ . J 1 \. l. "'.' , . ~, , . .1 ' L . '" . '. ~t'\l!.t~":";;'~t~..,\~.:(I'~\~.~~..~t>.- j PHi' . " "-:" .', i ',( t '. ..,. ", .:" . ~ . " L. .... r . ......,.' ~ ~'V"i;~)f" ..1. ~ rl~, '. .0/: it '- '10. . . . . . .'1 . . .. . . . .' " , . 1 , .' 'it~q~~'~~~iJii~&~i2;I;;tr;ii~f;;;:':.:,Cf,~,;/!i;?{i'\\i,~.:;,'~.;,;;,::,.,:~: ,;,;;~':;;&j..,;:::;,..k:;f, '.. . \ B n -- (d) Two or mora front yards. -Pences.. .on lots which have two (~) or more required front yard setbacks, as in the case of double frontage...1ots, are permitted in all zoning districts...subject to tho fl)llowingz (2) All secondary street frontages. Fences... are permitted to a maximum height of four (4) feet along all multiple front yards ,other than that street from which the property is addressed; Petitioners seek a variance from this restriction. 3. Subsections 131.016(e)(1)a-d~ ,Code of Ordinances, specify that the following criteria must be met in order for a variance to be granted: " a. That special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the land, structure or building involved and which are not . applicable to other lands, building or structures in the same district. b. That literal interpretation of the provisions of this chapter would deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in the: same distrir.:t, under the'.:terms of this chapter. ' c. That the special conditions and circumstances referred to in subsection a. above, do not result from the actions of the applicant. d. That granting the variance requested will not confer on the applicant any special privilege that is denied by this chapter to other lands, structures or dwellings in the same district. e' Under the terms of: the foregoing ordinance, an applicant for a variance must affirmatively demonstrate (a) that unique circumstances exist which are peculiar to the applicant's property, (b) that the application of the zoning code to ,applicant's property creates an unnecessary hardshi~(c) that the hardShip is not self-created or imposed, ~n:9. (d) :that by granting the variance applicant will not receive speo~al'_ denied to others in his neighborhood. 4. The evidence discloses that Petitioners' lot is ,\ , , indee'd unique to the subdivision in that only six of sixty~" " . . , '" ., , , . , , " . " . . ' ..,.' " ," e . .~ I . . , ' " , , " ~ ~ . . \ .. . 8 n 'I eight lots have double fronta~~. All others front on only one street. Howover, tho height restriction within the area is applicable to all lots, and is necessary to insure compliance with the fence and landscaping plan adopted by'the City. That is to say, Petitioners are similarly situated with all other homeownors who must adhere to the design and height restrictions embodied in the plan, and Petitioners enjoy the same rights as do all other homeowners in the sUbdivision. If the variance wore granted, it would confer a special privilege that is denied by the zoning regulations to other property owners in the area. " 8 It is unfortunate that Petitioners' neighbor' obtained approval to construct the same type of fence, and that oral approval was incorrectly given by the City to Mr. Jones to do the same. These events understandably m~ke it difficult for him to understand why the code 'must beatrictly construed, and variances granted only after all conditions have been met. However, until the existing code is amended, or Petitioners' can demonstrate that all criteria in Subsection l3l.016(e) (1) are satisfied, the application must be denied. Now therefore, in consideration of the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is o ORDERED that the application of Petitioners for a variance be DENIED. DONE and ORDERED this ~~ay of November, 1982, in Tallahassee, Flo~ida. ....>.. >"" '. . . I \ . "... . ~ . :~:: . :'. . '.~' . ~ii,:',~\:~:" ' ' , .' . . . ':VU~'<:;;',:-" ",\;:, "'" Copies' furnished 7":r~"5:::<;''':.:: '.,,'f >~';;;.: ~ ;'..: ... . '. . Vi/',";':',; :~;>{;: ',....,>.,~; -'SEE" ATTAC'HED ~{~~y,~~;,~t~~\t~l{:;';~~:;Li;~!:;,;::/ ,,', /', ":, ':" ;' ,~',,,,, " ',:~, " ~ ;;~rf;~7/')~}~I:~'"i'.~t~.:..~..:.-.:.~~.,.": >'." '.~', . ....~.~'1 . . . " , .," r,,', ':, 'i;i\~~~i~~:;;~..)~]:(::'" ,> : ,',": ' 'J. 'M.t.~'.,I.I{,.t ~r"~'''~'J ~,' ';\..~'. .,' ~(" " 'I (6) . . .. . ~, . t ,. , .~~~~i:~g~~~~t.R~~{~\!\.f~~!:;;i5J/(::. >j~'f~;Li;;,~",:',:>,,;.;~( i, '~:;::".."';,~'/::::>,,~,, ,:~:. :" ::,::", ",,','.~:, ::"".;',:::' ~~~JfXAN~~ Hearing Officer J ' Division of Adminis rativeHearings,; ... The Oakland Building 20'09 Apa1achee parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 ( 904)488-9675 ~ > ... 't " 'Filed 'with the Clerk 'of the Division o~ ~inistrative Hearings on th~s ~day of November, 1982. . , ' , , . _. ~ ';" . .\~~.>: " '> ~'::,::',~~.\,:2:i /:"/~<';_~:: " :" . " '.' <.' . " ' " :'1 ;\ " ' " , . >' ' <~. l:~ ~. :1:>.., ',. ;,':1,'. ',' . j" :' ,<~\:, :::::. I' '}',/?: ')'1 (\~~:~':!}:;?~(:j;?Jfl, '. ~,:". ~ t ",::.::..~,/.,:',":,~'~~,;':.~:~ -;", d".. ' , ' ,', : <: :,<~:,: :'t:~~:~~:":~.:: V .~ 1. . .' ..;1. .' ~ ~ i ' 'I,:" '..:, .'. . ~ ..- . :. .' ~. < .ll I 0, ", ," >: +.' . '. '!,\ " Copies, furnished I ' L. 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