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Request by Michael Davis, Insite Landscape Design, for front and side street setback variances for a Veterans Memorial Plaza located at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Harwood Avenue.
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Submitted by:
Art Pi?on
Department:
Development
A. Background
The applicant is requesting two (2) variances related to front and side yard setbacks for a proposed veterans memorial plaza located at the western corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Harwood Avenue in the Neighborhood Residential (NR) Zone. The subject site is a triangular lot with frontage on two streets and is primarily surrounded by residential development.
Both variance requests are needed to accommodate two semi-circular pergolas that are part of the proposed memorial plaza. All other components of the memorial, including flagpoles, landscaping, and hardscape elements, comply with City Code. Setbacks for structures in the NR zone are regulated under WMC 24.02.030. A summary of the requested variances is provided below:
Variance 1 - Front Yard Setback (Pergolas extending beyond setback along Harwood Avenue):
Required: 25 feet
Proposed: 0 feet
Variance 2 - Side Yard Setback (Pergolas extending beyond setback along Milwaukee Avenue):
Required: 15 feet
Proposed: 0 feet
On April 16, 2026, the project was presented to the City's Design Review Board (DRB), where the Board directed modifications to the proposed site layout. The revised plans, incorporating the DRB's recommended changes, were subsequently presented to the Board of Zoning Appeals on April 23, 2026, for informational purposes and preliminary feedback. Following those revisions, the Design Review Board approved the project on May 7, 2026.
A justification letter addressing the required approval criteria, site plan, and conceptual renderings are attached.
B. Recommendation
The standard four criteria should be applied to make the determination for the requested variances:
1. Exceptional circumstances do exist pertaining to this lot.
2. That a va...
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