October 4, 2024 |
Photo – Property of 804 W Bridge Avenue in Saratoga – Courtesy Realtor.com
The Saratoga town council has denied a property owner’s request to build a residential home on commercial property in the 800 block of Bridge Avenue. All of Bridge Avenue in Saratoga is zoned for retail business. Any houses along that specific stretch of road were constructed before the current zoning maps were put into effect and are, technically, non-conforming.
Seeing other homes in the area, Arizona resident David Rousa purchased the lot located at 804 West Bridge Avenue. Rousa soon discovered that his property is zoned for retail business. In order to build a home on the lot, the property owner needs the town of Saratoga to change the zoning to residential. Rousa has filed a zone change request with the Saratoga Planning and Zoning Commission.
During the August 13th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, Rousa explained to Planning Commission Chairwoman McCall Burau that he bought the lot sight unseen specifically to build a house.
Rousa told the board that when he bought the property, he was unaware that the lot was zoned for retail business. Citing other homes in the area, Rousa asked the Saratoga Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone his property to residential.
Rousa acknowledged that he should have checked the zoning on the property before buying it and offered to sell the lot if his zone change request isn’t granted.
By approving Rousa’s request, the town would be engaging in what is called spot zoning, a practice that municipalities try to avoid. After a lengthy discussion, the planning commission deadlocked on a vote to rezone Rousa’s property. Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis broke the tie by voting to send the matter to the town council for final review.
On September 17th, the Saratoga town council discussed the zone change request. Councilman Jerry Fluty said he does not support spot zoning. Instead, Fluty said he would prefer to grant Rousa a zoning variance.
With a zoning variance, the property would remain zoned for commercial use, but Rousa would be able to build a home.
Following another lengthy discussion, the town council voted to table the matter.
Rousa’s zone change request was revisited during Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting. Public Works Director Emery Penner said the governing body can deny Rousa’s application. Penner suggested that the planning committee look into rezoning the entire area for residential even though that particular block contains garages and other business properties. If that occurs, Penner said Rousa will be able to build a house on his property.
Mayor Chuck Davis said the zoning issues are likely to continue to be a problem if a permanent solution isn’t found.
Councilman Bub Barkhurst asked for a meeting with the property owners to discuss the possibility of changing the zone of the area.
Public Works Director Penner said the planning commission is prepared to hold those meetings. However, any proposed changes will take time to implement.
The Saratoga town council voted to deny Rousa’s zone change request and instructed the planning commission to begin the process of rezoning the area of Bridge Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets to residential. Public meetings with landowners will be held before any decision is made.
