Development News for Leander, Texas

Board of Adjustment Approves Variance for Fence and Sidewalk Removal on Shamrock Drive

The Board of Adjustment considered variance case VA 26-0026, which requested permission to place a fence within the street-side setback along Shamrock Drive and remove the requirement for a public sidewalk along Shamrock Drive. The property, located in the County Glen subdivision and zoned LC2A, was originally a single-family home converted to a business in 2007, with expansion and additional parking added in 2012. As part of the 2012 expansion, a required sidewalk along Shamrock Drive was extended but built within an easement due to open drainage ditches. The current occupant, an ABA Behavioral Therapy Clinic, has installed a fence around its outdoor play area that blocks public access to the sidewalk. Staff recommended approval with three conditions: the fence must be limited to six feet in height and remain black tubular metal, the sidewalk must remain in place for potential future city extension, and the fence must be removed when the clinic ceases operations. The Board discussed the implications of the variance on public access, easements, and the property's unique layout, ultimately approving the variance with the recommended conditions.