[0:02] Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The
time is now 5:30. Um the board of
[0:06] adjustment, city of Castle Hills is now
in session.
[0:10] Um the there is a quorum. Mr. Zurich is
um again on Zoom. Cassidy is on excused
[0:19] absence this evening. Um
[0:25] item number two, the consent agenda. Um,
may I have a motion on the consent
[0:30] agenda, please? Thank you, Mr. Lopez.
Thank you.
[0:36] Got it. All in favor say I. It's
unanimous. Thank you. Um, number three
[0:44] is um public hearing request from
Mohammad and April Lazar.
[0:50] um a variance sideyard spacing between
ABSU and principal structure as stated
[0:56] on the agenda. is I I just said since on
this kind of agenda instead of having to
[1:03] do it over and over and over again,
we're going to I'm going to officially
[1:07] open the public hearing, then close the
public hearing without objection
[1:12] and then we will have the agenda item
and those wishing to speak will have
[1:18] addressed during the agenda item itself
if that's okay. If there's no objection
[1:22] to that. Okay. Um it is now 5:31 public
hearing on this matter is open.
[1:30] There's no one wishing to speak. So 5:31
and a half public hearing is now closed.
[1:36] Item number four, discussion and pop
possible action on a request from uh Mo
[1:42] and April Lazar for a variance of
sideyard spacing between ABSU and the
[1:46] principal structure on a property
located at 102 South Garden View as
[1:51] published in the agenda.
Um, is there a motion for that item?
[1:58] » A motion.
>> Thank you. Seconded by Mr. Lopez. Okay.
[2:06] Uh,
[2:13] » table because uh
>> he was in a he was in a meeting. Um,
[2:17] yeah. And if you want to do it from the
table with a mic, that's perfect.
[2:22] Yes, sir.
Okay.
[2:25] » This has some interesting circumstances.
Would you fill us in, please?
[2:30] » Yes, sir. This ABSU already exists and
uh if I remember our conversation
[2:35] correctly, they want to improve upon the
structure and they really can't do that
[2:38] until they come into current code. So,
basically, they're asking for
[2:41] forgiveness and not necessarily
permission.
[2:43] » And this was like the one we dealt with
last last time with the compliance
[2:47] issue, bringing it up to zoning so they
could do the improvement. wanting to
[2:51] come into the current compliance. Yes,
sir.
[2:52] » Perfect. Thank you. Um, Mr. Rodriguez,
did you wish to speak on this?
[3:07] Greetings, Board of Adjustment. My name
is Joe Rodriguez, 110 South Garden View.
[3:12] Uh, my statements this evening are a
matter of public record. I respectfully
[3:15] will communicate uh some questions
specific to 102 South Garden View
[3:20] surrounding correlations and the
variance being requested setback
[3:24] sideyards. Per the uh city uh Castle
Hills publication to date this 102 South
[3:29] Garden View property is set for STR
short-term rental permit starting March
[3:33] 1, 2026. concerns, correlations
and other due to laws, ordinances
[3:39] involving zoning, architecture review
committee, board of adjustment here at
[3:44] BOA. Setback sideyard is a component
part of things going to occur at this
[3:50] property address. Land and buildings
covering more than 66 and twothirds of
[3:54] the property. drainage, impervious,
pvious cover, safety pool, fencing,
[3:58] volumes of trash placed, where what is
near that are affecting setback
[4:02] sideyard. As the city of Castle Hills is
conducting legal recording or
[4:07] documentation of this meeting, it should
be noted that a multitude of activity
[4:10] will be growing on South Garden View
because of existing problems. Castle
[4:14] Hills Police Department has selective
documented incidents and dates of many
[4:18] sorts due to the property and/or trust
owners at 108 South Garden View having
[4:22] rented to non-family. It's pool cabana.
It seems to be a halfway house with
[4:27] questionable and always suspicious
business ops occurring all hours of the
[4:31] day and night 24 by7. Vagrants and other
suspicious hood covered sunglasses
[4:35] loading and unloading with different
vehicles parking in multiple residences
[4:39] dropping and picking up backpacks,
packages, strangers lurking in the
[4:42] shadows, accessing the cabana at 108
South Garden View 24 by7. The many
[4:48] people occupying this cabana like
building are not caretakers or any sort
[4:52] of medical assistance in any form or
manner. Possible subleting also seems to
[4:57] exist. The property and/or trust owners
will try to escape and manipulate
[5:00] castills ordinances and more ongoing
whenever questioned or asked. Another
[5:05] STR short-term rental located at 116
South Garden View also slated I guess
[5:10] from temp to renewal starting March 1,
2026. that is on South Garden View again
[5:16] with the uh specifics to 102 South
Garden View setback sideyards.
[5:22] Should residents taxpayers safety
security be of top concern? How would
[5:26] you prioritize public safety security
when it is tied to variances which also
[5:30] has correlations
to other ordinances and laws? Please
[5:34] share these public record questions and
statements for the safety and security
[5:38] of your Castle Hills taxpayers and
residents. Everyone, thank you for the
[5:42] allotted time slot within this public
hearing.
[5:44] » Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. Um, April,
would you like to come up, please? Or
[5:49] Mo, you're going to do it. Okay.
[5:56] » Uh, good evening.
>> Thank you. Do you have any questions of
[6:01] Mr. Lazarus as a homeowner?
>> No. Let me finish them on.
[6:05] » Pardon me.
>> I want to hear him all. Okay,
[6:08] » that's it.
Who? Who? There's no one else to speak.
[6:14] No.
>> Okay. Did you have any questions of the
[6:17] homeowner?
[6:20] » Good evening, sir. Um, number two on
your application, you mentioned in 2008
[6:26] when the garage was built, the setbacks
were 5 to 8 ft. That was the that was
[6:33] the standard then?
>> Yes, it was.
[6:36] So Lou, in 2008, this structure was in
compliance.
[6:41] » So I can't speak to what happened in
2008, but I can tell you that the
[6:44] current code says that a sideyard
setback is 10 ft. And then it also has
[6:48] to be an ABSU has to be 10 ft from the
principal structure or other ABSUs.
[6:53] That's what the current code says.
>> Okay. So 2008, you're in compliance. Now
[6:57] the code has changed to 10. You're not
adding to this building. You're you're
[7:05] doing stuff inside the current
structure.
[7:07] » What we're doing is converting a garage
into a studio for my proper use. I am an
[7:16] artist. I paint and I design sculptures.
Some of them are on the grounds of city
[7:23] hall. That's it.
>> Okay. Thank you. Oh, and then do we have
[7:27] any letters for this
>> from neighbors or?
[7:31] » I didn't receive any letters. Did you,
ma'am? Okay.
[7:35] Uh, Zach, did you have any questions,
Zach?
[7:38] » I don't have any questions. Thank you.
>> Thank you,
[7:42] Ian. Okay. Thank you very much.
>> I would like to thank the board for
[7:46] taking the time to review our
application. Thank you.
[7:50] » Thank you. The motion's been made and
seconded. All in favor?
[7:56] » Thank you. It's unanimous. Thank you
very much.
[7:59] Uh the next item is a public hearing on
a request from Van Garcia for a variant
[8:05] sideyard spacing setback between ABSU
principal structure on a property
[8:10] located at 111 Hibiscus as published in
the agenda. Um again I am going to
[8:19] without objection I'm going to open the
public hearing, close the public hearing
[8:23] and then hear public comments on the
item itself. Um, it is now 5:38.
[8:30] Public hearing is now open.
If there's no comment in public hearing,
[8:35] 538 and a half and it's closed. Um,
item number five,
[8:44] is that right? Yeah. Item number six,
uh, discussion possible action, uh, to
[8:50] request from Van Garcia. ABSU request
setbacks as published on the agenda.
[8:57] Um,
is there a motion for this one, please?
[9:01] Thank you, Mr. Lopez.
Ian's made the second.
[9:06] Um,
Van, you want to come up or Jane or
[9:11] who'sever's doing this?
[9:16] » Good evening. Van Garcia, 111 Hibiscus
Lane. Um,
[9:23] other other than what's presented in the
presentation,
[9:27] um, I'm requesting that there be a a
change in the setback for a building
[9:32] that I'd like to put on my property. Um,
way back when when the house was built,
[9:37] as you can see in the documents, that
the offsets were 9 foot on either side.
[9:42] And now with today's rural residential,
they're 25 feet. My my piece of property
[9:49] is 73 feet wide. So, you take 50 ft off
of that, that gives me 23 feet right in
[9:54] the middle of the yard to put something
up. I got a beautiful view from my back
[10:00] porch, 365 ft to my back fence. If I put
that right in the middle of my yard, I
[10:06] won't have a view at all. Um, so I'd
like to offset it to what would be the
[10:11] east side of the property and I would
like to put it 5 ft off the fence line
[10:18] at that point.
>> Okay. Thank you. Are are there any
[10:21] letters uh on this item?
>> We do have one that was received an
[10:27] email from Mr. Jean Kelly.
Um, the letter reads, "Good morning,
[10:33] Louie. My name is Jean Kelly and I
reside at 112 West Castle Lane. This
[10:37] brief email is in reference to the board
of adjustment meeting scheduled for
[10:41] 22326
pertaining to the variance requests
[10:44] filed by Van Garcia. After speaking with
Mr. Garcia and understanding the scope
[10:49] of his project, I as a property line
sharing neighbor, I have absolutely no
[10:54] objection to his plans. Please feel free
to forward this email to anyone involved
[10:58] in this matter.
>> Thank you very much. Uh Van, you want to
[11:01] step back for just a second. Peter, did
you want to make a comment? Thank you.
[11:05] » I I would like to say one more thing.
There were two submitts. Um Susie Moody
[11:10] submitted one also. She sent it to you.
She's But I guess it was never received.
[11:17] » I never received it.
>> We missed it. Okay.
[11:19] » I I have a copy of it if y'all need it.
If we don't
[11:21] » Why don't you give the copy to Michelle,
please?
[11:23] » Okay.
>> Thank you. Peter, you want to get up and
[11:26] speak?
>> Evening. My name is Peter Bella. I live
[11:30] at 110 Hibiscus, right across the street
from Van and uh I'm just as you saw with
[11:36] Jean Kelly's letter, I'm also supportive
of uh Van's initiative. So, thank you
[11:42] very much.
>> Thank you, Peter.
[11:48] She has to receat that and then she'll
read it to us.
[11:54] I'm sorry.
Oh, okay. Um
[12:01] All right,
[12:05] Rick, do you have any questions?
[12:12] » He wants to build back. Is that
>> clarify that for me a little bit?
[12:18] » Do you have your mic on, sir?
>> He wants to build further back.
[12:23] » He's going to be building in his
backyard. The question is the side
[12:27] sideyard setback. He has a long thin lot
and if he adheres to the 25 ft setback
[12:32] on either side, he's going to have a
literally a 20ft structure. So he wants
[12:37] to can it over to the east close.
>> And how close is he going to be to the
[12:41] property line?
>> Five.
[12:43] » He'll be 5 ft.
>> And there Yeah. And there's no neighbor
[12:46] there.
>> Okay. Yeah, that's all I wanted to know.
[12:49] Thank you.
[12:53] » Go ahead. Who's on the
the east property line?
[13:00] What's that?
>> Who's on the east property line? You
[13:03] said there there's
>> Yeah, I don't know the name of the owner
[13:05] there, but there is no house at that
structure there. No, it's it's all these
[13:10] lots are oneacre lots and there's
nothing on the back of the other lot.
[13:15] » And Susie Booty is on this side and her
house is a full 250 ft.
[13:23] No, we're not going to.
Any other questions?
[13:28] Zach, do you have any questions?
>> Sure. Uh, for the homeowner, I guess the
[13:34] only question was why the east side of
the lot versus the west. I the
[13:39] orientation offset makes sense to me. I
was just curious if there was background
[13:44] to one side versus the other.
>> A good question. So, from the way my
[13:50] house is situated, the right hand side
of the house or the east side of the
[13:54] house is our master bedroom. And there
are no windows looking north to the far
[13:59] end of the property, but you go to the
west side of the house where the kitchen
[14:03] and dining room is. We have windows
there that look out over over the
[14:07] property. So, on the east side or the
right hand side of the property, it
[14:11] would be h not hidden. Now, you still be
able to see some of it, but the vast
[14:15] majority of the building would be offset
and not visible to our view from the
[14:20] kitchen or the back porch.
>> Anything else?
[14:23] » Thank you.
>> You okay?
[14:27] » I'm fine. Thank you,
>> Ian.
[14:31] » I was going to ask uh was it what was
the dimensions? I didn't clearly see
[14:36] that. There was a a box drawn for 30 by
30.
[14:39] » Yes.
>> And a box drawn for 40 by 40. So the the
[14:42] the plan is a 30 by30 building.
>> Okay.
[14:45] » And the 40x40 is a the an extension of
the the foundation for parking pad for
[14:51] because I don't a little more to the
story. I bought the house in 1999. It
[14:56] does not have a garage. It never did
have a garage. And so way I I don't know
[15:02] 2016 2014 we had a hail storm. It total
two of our cars. So we just bought we
[15:08] both bought new to us cars. and we don't
want that to happen again. So, it we're
[15:13] trying to find a way to protect those
things as well as lawn equipment and
[15:17] other things that I need to be putting
away instead of just pack parking out in
[15:22] the yard.
>> Understood. So, the 45 40x40 is the
[15:26] concrete pad. Yes, sir. 30 by 30 is the
structure.
[15:30] » Yes, sir.
>> But both are going to be 5 foot offset.
[15:33] » Yes, sir.
>> Okay.
[15:36] No further questions.
>> No further questions. Motion
[15:38] » one for for Louis. So it shows that he's
going to be 16 feet tall. Is that
[15:43] within
the the rules that we have here?
[15:47] » 16 code says that an ABSU uh can only be
35 ft in height or no higher than a
[15:53] principal structure, whichever is less.
And so that 16T is less than his
[15:58] principal structure.
So he's he's legal.
[16:02] » Okay. So it's legal.
>> Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, we have that
[16:05] letter on. Mr. Of course, he is going to
let uh the city secretary read the
[16:09] second letter. You can go ahead.
>> Go ahead.
[16:14] » This is from the neighbor on the west.
[16:20] » This is from Susie Moody.
[16:28] This is Susie Moody at 303 Foxh Hall
Lane. I am fine with Van and Jane adding
[16:33] the building. If you have any questions,
feel free to call me or email her. She
[16:39] is also the owner of 307 and fine as
well. Susie.
[16:44] » Okay. Any questions of that? Any
questions? Motion has been made and
[16:49] seconded. All in favor say I.
>> It's unanimous. Thank you very much, Mr.
[16:54] Garcia.
[16:58] Item number seven is a public hearing
portion
[17:01] um
for uh Chris and Emil Garcia for a
[17:07] variance sideyard spacing between ABSU
and the principal structure as published
[17:13] in the agenda. Uh the will adhere to the
same rules as we did before on public
[17:19] hearings. If there's no objection,
um being no objection, the meeting, the
[17:26] public hearing is now open at 5:47.
Public hearing is now closed at 5:47 and
[17:33] a half.
Um, agenda item eight, discussion and
[17:38] possible action on a request from Chris
and Emil Garcia for variance sideyard
[17:45] and spacing between ABSU and principal
structure
[17:49] located at 122 West Castle Lane as
published in the agenda. Um, Mr. Garcia,
[17:57] are you doing it tonight?
We all looked at this and said, "Wait a
[18:01] minute, weren't they here before?" and
we had to refresh our memories a little
[18:04] bit about why you're here again.
>> Yes, sir. Uh we're we want to put a pool
[18:09] in the back yard and we're putting a
outdoor kitchen and if I go off the of
[18:17] the 25 ft setback rule, uh I will be
encroaching on the septic uh system that
[18:24] we have in the backyard. So, I'm asking
for this variance to be able to stay
[18:29] away from our septic system. Um, and
it'll also help because it'll be in line
[18:35] with with the house.
>> This is the item that you had sort of
[18:38] brushed by us when we were here before
and you didn't do it because you hadn't
[18:44] finalized your plans when we approved
your garage. And that's correct.
[18:48] » Mr. Garcia, can you state your name and
your address for the record, please?
[18:51] » I'm sorry.
>> My name is Chris Garcia and I live at
[18:53] 122 West Castle Lane.
>> Thank you. Um, does just does that
[18:58] refresh your memory of the house we're
talking about?
[19:01] Okay.
Um,
[19:05] God, is everybody new?
>> No, you may have been gone.
[19:10] » I may have been gone.
>> He may have been gone.
[19:12] » Oh, he you were gone. I'm sorry. Okay,
but you know what we're talking about on
[19:16] this one. Okay. Um,
[19:21] » the
previous
[19:23] » Yeah. Why don't Why don't
>> Rick ask your questions.
[19:29] So there, what is there currently there
right now? It's just bare. I'm kind of
[19:34] confused with the septic. I didn't know
there was septic here in Castle Hills.
[19:37] Yes.
>> Yes. We have an aerobic septic system in
[19:39] the backyard and it's behind in the
backyard behind my house. Um so we're
[19:46] we're going to put the pool. If I had to
go with a 25 foot set back, it would be
[19:51] on top of the septic system. So, I'm
asking for a variance to put it in line
[19:58] with the house, which would be about 15
ft um off the side fence and then I
[20:03] would not be on top of my aerobic septic
system.
[20:06] » Okay. All right. That's all I had.
[20:13] » Good evening. So, your garage is off the
table now? No, I have I'm I'm in the
[20:19] works with it too as well, but um I have
to I have to plan it with the
[20:24] construction before I just start taking
off. So, I'm trying to get everything,
[20:29] you know, planned
and and that way I I don't get I don't
[20:33] handcuff myself while trying to build in
my backyard.
[20:37] » Okay.
So, if I remember correctly, then your
[20:41] garage is going to be on the east side
of your property.
[20:44] » On the east side, yes, sir. on the on
the back south uh east corner.
[20:48] » And that's how many feet do we give you
there?
[20:52] » Um I don't have it in front of me, but
it the 10.
[20:57] » Okay.
Do you have a structure here?
[21:07] There trees involved.
>> Yes. In this project,
[21:09] » I've got beautiful trees in the back.
Yes, sir. And so you can't build either
[21:13] because of the septic and the trees.
>> Well, the for the for what I'm
[21:17] requesting in variance today is because
of the septic for my shop building is
[21:22] because of the trees.
So I've got a big group of five trees,
[21:27] heritage trees in the middle. If I move
my that shop over 25 feet, I would have
[21:33] to knock all of them out.
[21:38] » Right. I think we talked about
him.
[21:48] But we advised you that if we grant
these, that doesn't mean you get to do
[21:52] them if you have to do um what's the
previous coverage? Sorry. Have you
[21:56] factored that in?
>> Yes.
[21:58] » I know we're not talking about that
today, but you you are considering that.
[22:01] » Yes, sir.
>> Okay.
[22:03] » Oh, I have
>> Zach, do you have any questions?
[22:08] Yeah, I I mean I guess that would just
be a followup to Justin's. So I
[22:12] understand that the only agenda item is
for the the the setback,
[22:17] but maybe it's to Louis. I mean the
stage of of which that's analyze is that
[22:22] is that something that comes next or how
does that work?
[22:27] » I'm not sure I understand the question.
>> Well, the question is same thing as we
[22:30] were talking about. If they approach
impervious cover, they've got to come
[22:34] back and address that.
>> Correct. and and they were talking about
[22:37] last time using uh a paper system, a
drainage system, something like this
[22:43] that would and they're not asking
tonight for an impervious cover
[22:47] variance.
>> Understood. Okay. So, that's a that's a
[22:51] second that would be a second
application review period if
[22:55] » that would be that would be the third
application if necessary.
[22:58] » Yeah. Understood. Okay.
[23:04] So, the garage has been built in.
>> It's been approved.
[23:07] » Okay. That's where I wasn't really too
sure.
[23:09] » Zach
Ian, sorry.
[23:12] » No, I think the discussion's handled all
of my Did I get it?
[23:17] » Uh, Mr. Worth, I I notice you're signed
up. Would you stepside, Mr. Garcia, and
[23:22] let Mr. Worth come up and give us his
comments, please?
[23:31] Gentlemen, Terry War, 124 West Castle
Lane. I'm his neighbor.
[23:39] Chris can do whatever he wants to as
long as it fits with y'all's guidelines,
[23:44] of course. I'm being a little
lighthearted, but um uh we don't have
[23:49] any problem with it at all.
>> Great. Thank you very much, sir.
[23:52] » Yes, sir. Thank you all.
>> So, the bottom line is you support the
[23:56] application. Is that Terry?
Bottom line, you support the
[24:01] application.
>> Support the application.
[24:04] » Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much.
[24:10] » Do we have any letters on that one?
>> It came to my attention.
[24:13] » Okay.
The motion's been made and seconded. All
[24:17] in favor say I.
It's unanimous. Thank you, Mr. Garcia.
[24:23] Ladies and gentlemen, oh, announcements.
I realize we have a new agenda item
[24:27] announcements. Um, there are no
applications for next month. Is that
[24:32] correct?
>> There may be
[24:37] there there may be up to four.
>> Okay. Well, then we're
[24:40] » that's why I was hesitant.
>> What now?
[24:42] » There may be up to four. That's why I
was hesitant.
[24:48] » April.
>> No, we're talking about March.
[24:50] » Oh, there's none for March.
>> That's what Okay.
[24:53] » That I'm aware of. I need to check.
>> Everybody next time's going to have to
[24:56] eat before they come. Okay. Including
me. All right. Uh there is not a meeting
[25:01] in March. We I'm sure we'll have a
packed agenda in April. Any
[25:05] announcements, Mr. Lopez? Any
announcements? Ian, Zack, any
[25:10] announcements? Perfect. Thank you very
much for attending this evening. This