The most notable decision of the Seminole Board of Adjustment meeting was the approval of a variance request for a front porch addition on Fairway Drive. The property owner, Wayne Thomas, sought to rebuild a porch that had been damaged by a hurricane. The new construction would encroach 7.2 ft into the front yard setback, reducing it from the required 25 ft to 17.8 ft. Neighbor Michael Rice expressed support for Thomas’s request, highlighting the commonality of porches in the neighborhood and their contribution to its character. The Board approved the variance, acknowledging the historical context and the impact of the hurricane.

Another item addressed was the variance request for a new single-family dwelling on lot one on Tangerine Avenue. The applicant proposed constructing a house that would encroach 2.5 ft into the North and South Side yard setbacks, seeking a reduction from 7.5 ft to 5 ft. During the discussion, the Board sought clarification on the property’s zoning and the minimum lot size requirements for single-family development. The applicant provided insight into the property’s unique situation, given its proximity to a commercially zoned parcel. After considering the specifics of the property and the proposed dwelling size, the Board approved the variance request.

The Board also discussed a request for a side street setback reduction for a 16×16 shed on a property discussed in the meeting. The proposed shed location was 17.2 ft into the East Side Street setback and 3.2 ft into the north side yard setback. The Board noted that a variance for a fence on the property had been previously granted in 2003. With a letter of support from the directly affected neighbor and after clarifying that the shed would be built within the existing fence line, the Board approved the variance.

A variance request for a privacy fence on West Faith Terrace also garnered the Board’s approval. The existing fence, installed by the previous owner, encroached entirely into the East Side Street setback, reducing it from 25 feet to 0 feet. The current owner cited security and privacy concerns as the primary reasons for maintaining the fence. Neighbors’ letters of support were acknowledged before the Board decided to grant the variance.

Further into the meeting, other variance requests were deliberated and approved. These included a lot size variance for a property in the A1 agricultural district, a rear yard setback variance for a garage addition in the R1AA single-family dwelling district, and a rear yard setback variance for hurricane damage mitigation in the R1 single-family dwelling district. Additionally, a rear yard and side yard North setback variance for a shed, and two variance requests for another shed in the R1AA zoning district, were approved.

Despite concerns raised about the accuracy of some measurements provided, the Board approved the variance requests after careful consideration of the specific circumstances and potential impact on surrounding properties.