The Sunrise Manor Town Advisory Board on Thursday denied a request by the Barker Family Trust to reduce the rear setback to 10 feet so an accessory dwelling unit (casita) could be built before the primary house.

The item, filed as WS250403 for a 0.46-acre parcel in an RS-20 residential zone, drew questions after staff and board members found multiple versions of the application in the record. Joy DeBlanco, representing the applicant, told the board, “What they’re asking for is a reduction to 10 foot setback in the rear property line, and they’re wanting to build their casita first, and then later they’re going to come back and build their house.”

Why it matters: Board members said the record did not make clear how long a homeowner could occupy the secondary unit before building the main residence and whether the filing used the correct waiver pathway. A board member said the packet on the board’s website contained an older version and that inconsistency left members unable to determine what they were voting on.

Board discussion focused on habitability and long-term use. DeBlanco said people “are staying in the secondary house while they’re building the primary house,” and that “typically, the term lasts between 2 and 3 years.” Board members pressed for a clear timeline and said they were uncomfortable approving a setback reduction when the application paperwork conflicted.

The planning staff’s recommendation — to deny the waiver — was moved by a board member and carried on a voice vote. The board did not record individual vote tallies in the public remarks; members indicated unanimous assent on the motion. The board asked staff to notify the applicant and to coordinate corrections to the application before it returns to the Planning Commission.

The decision stops the applicant from proceeding under the setback waiver as written. Board members noted that the applicant could pursue alternative waiver procedures or submit corrected materials for future hearings.

Board members who participated in the discussion included Kevin Williams, Rue Barbot, Harry Williams, Sondra Cosgrove, Jill Leyva, Gloria Wells and Dandy Tomasso. The applicant was represented by Joy DeBlanco.