The Terrell Zoning Board of Adjustments on Oct. 28 approved a variance to allow a two-car carport at 723 Griffith Avenue to encroach on the side-yard setback required in the SF-16 zoning district.

City staff recommended approval of the variance, saying the carport would still need to meet other applicable zoning standards and noting the application was accompanied by several letters in favor. The staff report identified the relevant zoning provision as section 16.4b.2 and said the standard side-yard setback for the zone is 10 feet; the applicant requested a reduced setback of roughly 2 feet.

The applicant, Mike Chitty, told the board he and his wife, Elise Chitty, have lived at the address since September 1977 and want the carport to protect vehicles from increasingly frequent hailstorms. "This is our property that we've occupied as our homestead since September 1977," Chitty said, adding the structure would be an open carport with a roof and four posts designed to match the house. He said neighboring owner Mike Candler, who owns the adjacent lot to the west, has no objection and that the applicants had received three mail-in letters of support and four hand-delivered letters.

Board members moved and seconded approval of "case BR24-04, at 723 Griffith Avenue." The board called for the ayes and, after asking for nays, the chair said the motion carries. The meeting record does not list individual vote tallies or identify by name which member moved and seconded.

The board did not record any amendments to the motion. City staff noted that other zoning requirements for carports must still be met during permitting, and the applicants said their plan includes replacing an existing basketball-post anchor and adding three new posts to support the carport roof.

With the variance approved, the applicants may proceed to the permitting stage, subject to staff review and compliance with other applicable codes and standards.