Hearing Set for Feb. 16 on Woodbluff Deck Addition

A variance hearing to review Woodbluff resident Joan Barch’s request to add a deck to her home will be at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, before the Mackinac Island City Council.

The deck, according to Mrs. Barch, would exceed the city’s backyard setback minimum of 25 feet. That is the minimum distance a building must be from the lot line.

Under the city’s zonining ordinance, “No variance in the provisions or requirements of this ordinance shall be authorized by the board unless the board finds from reasonable evidence that all the following facts and conditions exist:

A. That there are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or conditions applying to the property in question as to the intended use of the property that do not apply generally to other properties in the same zoning district.

B. That such variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right similar to that possessed by other properties in the same zoning district and in the vicinity. The possibility of increased financial return shall not of itself be deemed sufficient to warrant a variance.

C. That the authorizing of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property, and will not materially impair the intent and purposes of this ordinance or the public interest.

D. That the condition or situation of the specific piece of property, or the intended use of said property, for which the variance is sought is not of a general or recurrent nature as to make reasonably practicable the formulation of a general regulation for such conditions or situation.”