In a straightforward decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), St. Paul resident John Piccone was granted the variances needed to embark on a home addition project. Detailed in the latest BZA public hearing results, the proposal involves construction at 1036 Goodrich Avenue, located in a zone marked H1. According to the official document released by the City of St. Paul, the minor variance approval will allow Piccone to connect his house with an existing garage, which is currently out of compliance with zoning codes for setback distances.
The need for a variance arose because the proposed addition would have the house and garage less than six feet apart, contravening the standard zoning requirements. Per the existing code, there should be a side yard setback of 5 feet and a rear yard setback of 10 feet. However, the applicant's current garage has an eastern setback of 3.1 feet and a southern setback of 3.3 feet. This construction plan, therefore, required the BZA to officially approve a variance of 1.9 and 6.7 feet respectively. In the end, Piccone's request was met favorably, passing with the board's unanimous support in a 4-0 vote.
Public comments for the hearing were accepted by the board, with a cutoff stipulated for submissions—a common practice to ensure that all opinions are considered in a timely manner before a zoning decision is made. The BZA invited feedback to be sent to [email protected], with the cutoff for consideration being 2:00 p.m. August 29, 2025. While the deadline ensured orderly review, the BZA's documentation clarified, "Please note, any comments and materials received after 2:00 p.m. August 29, 2025, will not be provided to the BZA."
No other resolutions or old business were listed for approval or discussion during this public hearing, signifying an agenda firmly centered on the new business at hand. Following the variance approval, the board moved to swiftly adjourn the meeting. As for John Piccone's development plans, with the BZA's blessings, they appear to be set to move forward. In locales where the letter of the code and the spirit of improvement seek to find a harmonious balance, such zoning appeals continue to play a critical role in shaping the residential landscape of St. Paul.
