The Board of Adjustment on Jan. 13 approved variances for an addition to a historic house at 1607 West 10th Street, citing unique property hardships and Landmark Commission approval for the rear addition.

Applicant Thomas Schiefer described three hardships: the lot was reduced when the city widened 10th Street, portions of the neighboring house encroach on his property (he told the board “our neighbors living entire living room and entire driveway are currently on our property”), and recent changes to the city’s small-lot rules affected the property’s allowable impervious cover. Schiefer said he and his wife, Megan Rosales, have already secured Landmark Commission approval for the addition’s design.

Vice Chair Melissa Hawthorne and other board members who reviewed the application said the combination of factors made the lot unique and justified a variance. In making the motion, the board found the request met the standard variance criteria: strict application of the rules would prohibit reasonable use of the property; the hardship is unique to this lot given its legal status, historic designation and the encroachment situation; and granting the variance would not alter the character of the area.

Board members noted the property had letters of support from neighborhood organizations; Schiefer cited letters from Clarksville Community Development Corporation and the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association in his presentation.

The motion to approve was made by Vice Chair Melissa Hawthorne and seconded by Board member Michael Von Nolan. Voting members recorded as yes were Tommy Yates; Jessica Cohen; Melissa Hawthorne; Young Ju Kim; Brian Poteet; Jeffrey Bowen; Janelle VanZant; Michael Von Nolan; Bianca Medina Leal. The motion carried and the applicant’s variances were granted.

The approval preserves the house’s front facade while allowing the approved addition at the rear, consistent with the Landmark Commission’s prior approval for the stamped plans.