HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA-934LAW OFFICE OF
MATTHEW A. NICHOLS
RECEIVED
DEC 3 1 2O1B
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PI.ANNING &ZONING
3205 Randall Parkway, Suite 104
Wilmington, NC 28403
Ph: (910) 508-7476
Email : matt@mattnicholslaw.com
December 3 1. 2018
Mr. Ken Vafier CFM, AICP
Planning Manager
New Hanover County Land Use Department
230 Govemment Center Drive, Suite 1 10
Wilmington, NC 28403
Re APPLICATION FOR VAzuANCE TO THE NEW HANOVER COLINTY
ZONING BOARD OF ADruSTMENT for property located at 7419 Dunbar Rd.,
New Hanover County (PARID: R04500-001-009-000)
Dear Mr. Vafier:
I represent Paul and Sandra Seiferth, the owners of the above-referenced property
located at 7419 Dunbar Road. Please accept this letter and the enclosed variance application
with respect to my client's property.
Please find enclosed the following:
1 Variance Application with attached Exhibits;
2. Authority for Appointment of Agent Form; and,3. A check made payable to New Hanover county in the amount of $400.00 for the
Variance Application Fee.
Please let me know if you require any additional information at this time. We respectfully
request that this item be scheduled for hearing at the regularly scheduled January 2019 meetingof the New Hanover County Zoning Board of Adjustment. As I previously indicated, myclients respectfully submit this variance request in the altemative and without prejudice to theirpending appeal (ZBA-932) and the arguments raised in that appeal.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
\.IA HAND DII,IVERY
Mr. Ken Vafier
December 31, 2018
Page 2
Sincerely yours,
Matthew A. Nichols
RECEI'v'trD
Dtc 312018
Nqw HANOVER COUNTYPI.ANNING & ZONING
MNinc
Cc: Deputy County Aftorney Sharon Huffman (via e-mail: shuffman@nhcgov.com)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & LAND USE
230 Governnrent Cenler Drive, Suile I I O
Wilmington, North Corolino
Telephone (910) 798-7165
FAX (91O) 798-7053
plqnningd.volopm.nl.rhcgov..om
DEC
EIVED ..: .
ffi8
VARIANCE
Applicotion
Applicont/Agent lnformolion Properly Owner(s)
lf dillerent lhon Apfliconlf Agent
Nqme
Poul Seiferth, ond wife Sondro Seiferth
Owner Nome
Some os Applicont
Compony Owner Nome 2
Address
301 2 Sturbridge Ct.
Address
City, Stote, Zip
Allison Pork, PA 15101
City, slole, Zip
Phone
1910) 508-7476 (c/o Appliconts' Atlorney, Motl Nichols)
Phone
Emoil
mon@moltnicholslow.com
c/o Aooliconls' Attorney, Mott Nichols
Emoil
Sublect Property lnf ormolion
Tolol Porcel(s) Acreoge
Approximotely 3.456 ocres
Received by:
I
Dote/Time received:
ApplicotionTrocking lnformolion (SiollOnly)
)?l
/r/\z
Poge 3 of 6
Vorionce Applicotion - Updoted 3/2017
\:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PLANNING & ZONING
Address/Locotion
741 9 Dunbor Rd.
Porcel ldenlificotion Number(s)
R04500-00r -009-000
Etirting Zoning ond Use(s)
R-20, vqconi
7..b4 42Cose Number
Sublea Zoning Rogulollon, Clhopirr ond Scdon:CNINGNHC Zodng Ordhonc Sec. 55..t
h thc bclow rpooe, pl.or. prwldc o norroflrr€ of the oppllcodoo (Addtdonol pogs! moy ba onodEd to fic
oppllcotbr lf nccr:ory)
Appllconl r€gue,t o vorlcrrce fron lhe lrbw Honover County Con:crvotion Ovcrloy Dkald (COD Ordlrcncc)
Chopror 55'l ln order to conrlrirc't o rlnglc fomlly-reddenca cr on R-20 zoned porcal vlrhh rhc COD :crbo*.
Plcq:s :cs oltochad Exrlbh'A'lor fudhcr explonotior of fie d.ormnoncet leodL€ to the requerted vorlorice
ond the losrlllcotlan for rorne.
Ttn Zoning Eoord of Adlustncnt moy groi o vErlonce lf lt find: thot ,rld oppllcotlon of tha ordinone resultr ln on
r.mnecessory hordrldp for rhe opplkom, ond lf fte vorlonca i3 cooslilrrt wlth the rplrh, purpoce, ord lntent of the
ordlnote. Ilr€ oppli:orn mlrt exploln, wilh rorcroaco lo ottodd plorr (where oppltcoble), how the propo:ed usa
meetr lhere requlred flndlngs (plco:e rre oddhlonol pogcs if necesrcryl.
Unnxorory hodrhlp would rpruh lrom orld oppllcollon of lta ordircnc.. l, sholl aol be neassary iodernorffi ,hor, ia ltc obrace of ,he vorirnca, no roosonoble rrle con ba oode of ffic propedy.
Pleose see ottodrad Exhlbtr 'A'.
I
Poge ,l of 6
Vodone Applkoflo -Updotcd 3/mt7
i:-UCEIV'LD
";0 3 1
J
2. fhe hodthlg ruulb from condtionr llrl on pcculior l,o lho proparty, ruch ot locolion, slzc ot-^'j
topogrophy. Horcbhip rcsrlling trcn Frsonol cirwmsb,tres, os noll or fiorddripc reedling frron oodiliou llwt
ore cornraon io lfie neighborhood or gcnrol pvblic, roy rct be $a bsis tx gronling o vonbaco.
Pleore see ottoched Exhfllr 'A'.
3. Thc hordrhlp dld not raruh from cdlonr tolrn by tho oppllcor or thc propcrly owncr. the ocl of
psrdoshg prOpcrty vith krcvldgo ltril ci.cumrtoncer oxirt ld noy iushly tla grwrling of o vorbne rholl rpl
be regor&d or o relf-creohd fiordrhip
Pleo.e i€e ottofu Enrlbh "A'.
tl. lhc nquotrrd vorlonco lr condrlcri wfih fhc rpldl, purpor, ond llrlgt of lhc cdlncmr, sch that poHlc
.of.ly l. ..cur.d, ond rubrlontlol lurtlcc b ochlcvrd.
Pleore sec otodrcd Exhtbtt 'A".
Pogc 5 ol 6
Vorl@rco AppIcofion - Updored 3/2017
-CEIVED
Stoff wlll use ft€ followlr€ dreckllst lo delermln€ the complotencss of your opplkoflon Pleose verify oll of the llsted
Items ore included ond conflrm by lnlrlollng trldcr 'Appllcod lnltlol", Stoff wlll not proc8$ qn opplicotlon for funher
reylew untll It ls determlned to be complste.
I U 'l-Y MIJ
2 -,.-rrrvqzUNll{(Appllcorion fee - $.100 /]Au
3 She or rketdr llluSlrorlng raqu€red vorlonce
I I hord copy of AIL dooxflerft
-
IIT
8y my signoture bCow, I undorslond ond occcpt oll of |ha ondlttonr, llnliotlonr ond obllgofion: of thc vorlonca
opplkotlon for whldr I om opplylng. I und€rtond thor lhovo the burden of provlng why thl3 oppllcollon maoB tha
requlre ftrdlngc moe.sory for grontltE o vorlonG. I ccrfi thor rhb oppllcotlon ls cooploto ord ttror oll Infornrcrlon
prela ed ln lhit opplicofbn li oco.rc e to the best of my kmwledge, lnformotton, ond bellef.
I ol3o oppolnt the oppllcom/ogsnt 05 llred on thk opplicotlor to r€prers me ond mok6 ded:loG on my beholf
regordlng tNr oppltotlcn durtng the revlew process. The oppllont/ogent ls hereby outhorized on my beholf ro:
L Submh on oppltcotlon lncludlng oll rcgulrcd supplcmentol lnformotlon ond motorlolsi2, Appeor or pbllc haorlrE! lo glv6 reprd€r oflo.r ond commttmart:; ord3. Aa on my beholf wllhod llmltotlons wlth regord ro ony ond oll lhlngi dtrecrly or lndtrecfly cornaaod wlth or ori3lng
l{OTlt Fom ou,nr bc dgrd by the owe{t) of rsord. lf ttrere ore mrhlpb pnoporty owrrr o tlgnotsro Ir reqd.ed tor oodr
ownsr of rGcqd.
Poul Self erth/Sondro Selferth
Slgnoluro cf orrncr(t)
our of this
Slgnolurc of Applico nf/Agcnl Pdnt llome(r)
Prlnt lloma(rl
lrtonhew A. Nldrols
Apollcation Commenlc
Complete Vorloncc opollotlon
*The lond owner or lheir oltorney musl be op.enl for lhe cose ol lhe oublic heotino.
Fot Stoll Only
Poge 6 of 6
Vorlorca Apptrortor - Ugdated 3/2012
,
APPELLANT/APPLICANT
AGENT:
Exhibit "A"
to
Variance Application
(7419 Dunbar Road)
Paul Seiferth and wife. Sandra Seiferth
Matthew A. Nichols
Law Office of Matthew A. Nichols
-Lq. l
DATE:December 31, 2018
PROPERTY 7419 Dunbar Rd., Wilmington, New Hanover County
(PARID: R04500-001 -009-000)
State ment Annellants/Aonlican etitioners
Project Narrative: Dr. Paul Seiferth and wife, Sandra Seiferth, are the owners of the subject
property located at 7419 Dunbar Road, Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC. (..Subject
Property"). The Subject Property is a large, uniquely shaped, vacant waterfront tract of land
consisting of approximately 3.456 acres with significant frontage along Pages Creek. The
Seiferths wish to construct a single-family home on the Subject Property for their personal use.
The application ofthe COD setbacks on this uniquely shaped parcel and the manner in which this
property is situated on the creek, together with a large utility easement crossing the center of the
property, creates a significant and unnecessary hardship on the utilization ofthis tract for a single-
family home.
Applicants Pending Appeal, New Hanover County Planning File No, ZBA-932I On or about
December 4,2018, the Applicants submitted an appeal application to the Board of Adjustment
related to a determination by County Staff on the issue of whether the COD ordinance regulations
apply to the subject property, including whether the subject property is exempt from the COD
ordinance pursuant to NHC ordinance $ 55.1-2(l) and/or (3), and other provisions of the coD
ordinance. That appeal is pending and has not yet been heard by the Board of Adjustment. The
Applicants respectfully submit this variance request rz the allernative and without re udice to
their pending appeal and the arguments raised in that appeal. In the event that the Board of
Adjustment upholds the County Stafls determination in the appeal proceeding (ZBA-932), the
Applicants respectfully request a variance lrom the application of the COD regulations to their
property as more particularly set forth herein and to be presented at the Hearing on this variance
request.
Criteria for Variance:
1. Unnecessary hardship would result from strict application of the ordinance. It shall not
be necessara to demonstrate that, in the absence of the variance, no reasonable use can
be made of the property.
080
Y
Application ol the COD on this particular lot creates an unnecessar)' hardship on the
Applicants' ability to make reasonable use ol this unique property for the purposes of
constructing a single-family residence. The subject prope(y is essentially the remnant portion .
of Tract 7 from the 1927 C.N. Dunn Place division map recorded in Map Book 2 at Page 128,
New Hanover County Registry. remaining since a division of that tract in 1981. A 30-foot
wide utility easement (shown on Map Book 43, Page 309, New Hanover County Registry)
crosses the entire width of the subject property, effectively dividing the property into two
unequal sides. This large utility easement, coupled with the application ofthe COD setback,
significantly and unnecessarily reduces the potential building footprint for a single-fumily
home. It is significant to note that the Applicants are still required to comply with all applicable
State CAMA regulations, setbacks and building requirements, including all other New
Hanover County and State Building regulations.
2. The hardship results from conditions that are peculiar to the property, such as location,
size or topography. Hardship resulting from personal circumstances, as well as hardships
resulting from conditions that are common to the neighborhood or general public, may
not be the basis for granting a variance.
The Subject Prope(y is very uniquely shaped and situated on Pages Creek. The hardship in
this particular instance is due to the location, size, typography and situation ofthis property on
Pages Creek. The unnecessary hardship created by the application of the COD setbacks on
this particular property is not the result of personal circumstances and is not common to any
other prope(ies in the vicinity or the general public. No neighboring properties are situated in
the same manner as the subject property. Allowing a variance for this unique property does
not establish a precedent for any other properties in this particular vicinity or the County
generally.
3. The hardship did not result from actions taken by the applicant or the property owner.
The act ofpurchasing property with knowledge that circumstances exist that may justify
the granting of a variance shall not be regarded as a self-created hardship.
The Applicants did not create the hardship in this instance, which results from the unique shape
ofthe parcel, including its large creek frontage, and the adverse impact ofa 3O-foot wide utility
easement running through what is essentially the middle of the parcel. The subject property is
essentially the remnant portion of rract 7 lrom the 1927 c.N. Dunn place division map
recorded in Map Book 2 at Page 128, New Hanover county Registry, remaining since a
division ofthat tract in 1981. Additionally, the above-referenced 30-foot wide utility easement
(shown on Map Book 43, Page 309, New Hanover county Registry) was established more thanfifteen years ago. The Seiferths acquired the subject property in December20l7, by virtue of,
that deed recorded in Book 6l I 2 at page 845, New Hanover county Registry. The hardship
in this instance is unique to this particular property.
VED
4. The requested variance is consistent with the spirit, purpose, and intent of the ordinance,
such that public safety is secured, and substantial justice is achieved.
Allowing this variance is consistent with the spirit, purposes, and intent of the coEordircEplpi'i r
including the intent of the exemptions cunently allowed in the CoD ordinance. Allowin!IlllF
variance will not create any public safety issues, and the Applicants are still required to comply
with all State and county building regulations, including all applicable cAMA setbacks from
Pages Creek. Additionally, the construction of a single-family dwelling within the COD
setback areas on this particular lot will have no negative affect on any adjacent property owners
and will not adversely affect or block any adjacent property owners, view ofpages Creek.
In the event that the Board upholds the County Staffs determination in the aforementioned
appeal proceeding (ZBA-932), the Applicants respectfully request a variance lrom the
application ofthe COD regulations to their property in order to allow for the construction ofa
single-family residence within that area oftheir property generally shoun as shaded in red on
the attached Exhibit "A1".
| *-tEXHIBIT
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Print Form
t)NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PLANNING & LAND USE
AUTHORITY FOR
APPOINTMENT OF AGENT
Wilmington. NC 2840i
910-798-7165 phone
910-798-7053 frx t,
*wrv.nhcgov.com
ItJ
'""11i.
Please not€ that for qu{si-judicial proceedingsr either the land owncr or rn rttorney must be prcscnt for
the case at the public hearing.
l. Submit a propcr petition and thc required supplemental information and materials
2. Appeal at public meetings to give representation and commitmens on behalfofthe property owncr
3. Act on the propeny owner's behalf rvithout limitations with regard to any and all things directly or
indirectly connected with or arising out ofany petiaion applicablc to the New Hanover County Zoning
Ordinance.
Cirt. Strt., Zip
Wilmington. NC 2841 1
05 Randall Pkwy, Suite 104
I'his documcnt was rvilllully exccuted on the 0 .s+.dayol .20 {R
D
Otvncr I Signature
Paul Seiferth
Orr'ncr
Agent Information Property Owner(s)Subject Properg'
Matlhew A. Nichols
O$ nar \rmr
Paul Seiferth
Addrlrs
7419 Ounbar Rd
( omprtr!
Law Office of Matlhew A. Nichols F
On rcr \afi! 2
andra Seiferth
lddrcsr
3012 Sturbridge Ct.
( i!!, Str(e, Zip
Wilmington, NC 28403
('ir], Strte, Zip
Allison Park, PA 15'10'l
I'honc
(910) 508-7476
l'hooc
l.:nrril
matt@mattnicholslaw.com
I:m:ril
( rrc fumbcr llcf.rence:Dalc/l imc reccivcd:R.<.iv.d br:
Sandra
Sisnature
S;iferth
09r14
.. . ,'ffi'
'l'he undersigned orvner does hereby appoint an authorized the agent described herein as their exclusive agent
fbr the purpose of petitioning New Hanover County for a variancc, spccial use permit, rezoning request, and/or
an appeal of Staff decisions applicable to the property described in the attachcd petirion. The Agent is hereby
authorized to. on behalf of the propeny o$rncr:
Prrc.l lD
R0450G001-009-000
.\ pplicrt ion 'Ir..kioE I n fo.mrtioo (Slrlr OrlI)