Board of Adjustments OKs permit for residential carport

The Siloam Springs Board of Adjustments met Tuesday to discuss a single agenda item. The item was a variance for a development permit for a house on 415 N. Walnut St.

The applicant, Crystal Marschewski, desired to build a carport onto the existing house on the lot, but the carport would encroach 3.5 feet into the 12-foot setback for corner lots in the historic district.

In the city’s staff report, staff found that there is a legitimate hardship faced by the applicant because there were no alternative

locations for a carport. The lot was also previously subdivided, not by the applicant, which made the lot shallow.

Most lots in the singlefamily

residential neighborhood are deeper, at 115 to 120 feet deep, according to the staff report. The subject lot in the variance application is only 74 feet deep.

A neighbor, Charles Younger, who lives in a lot diagonal to Marschewski, spoke in favor of the variance during the portion

of the meeting allotted to public comments. Younger also wrote a letter to the city in favor of the permit.

“It’s very seldom we get a letter that approves of something,” said board Chairman Karl Mounger.

The variance was approved 6-0, with board member Ted Song absent.