Crestwood Board of Adjustment Public Hearing and Election - January 20, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes indicate this meeting occurred on January 15, 2026, but the provided metadata specifies January 20, 2026. This summary uses the metadata date as instructed.

The Crestwood Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on two variance requests and conducted the annual election of officers. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. and adjourned at 7:57 p.m. (local time).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No oral public comments were made on either variance. For the 1001 Ferndale Avenue request, the applicant submitted three letters of support from neighbors, which were entered as Exhibit 10.

Discussion Items

BZA-1-26: 9722 Twincrest Drive – Variance for Side Yard Setback

• Applicant: Classic Building, LLC on behalf of Richard and Tamara Sawyer.
• Request: A two-foot variance from the 7-foot minimum side yard setback to allow a rear addition to be constructed 5 feet from the east lot line.
• Property zoning: R-4 single-family residential. The lot depth (120 ft) is nonconforming (requires 125 ft). The existing house already encroaches within the required setback.
• Staff testimony: City Planner Danny Jendusa stated the addition otherwise meets code. The variance is needed because the house is not parallel to the lot line.
• Board discussion: Members noted the house was built before current zoning, and the addition maintains the existing 5-foot offset. No opposition.
• Vote on statutory factors: The Board voted on five required findings. On the first factor (exceptional narrowness/shallowness), the Board voted 0-5 that the applicant had not demonstrated it. On the second factor (unique property conditions), the Board voted 5-0 in favor. On the third factor (conditions not self-created), 5-0. On the fourth (deprivation of rights), 5-0. On the fifth (no special privilege), 4-1 (Mark Sasser voted nay). Despite the negative vote on two factors, the Board proceeded to a final motion.

BZA-2-26: 1001 Ferndale Avenue – Two Variances for Front Yard Setbacks on Corner Lot

• Applicant: Amanda and Nathan Bjornson.
• Request:
  • Variance of 2 feet from the 30-foot front yard setback on Ferndale Avenue (new garage at 28 ft).
  • Variance of 5.25 feet from the 30-foot front yard setback on Liggett Drive (new garage at 24.75 ft).
• Property zoning: R-4 single-family residential. Corner lot with legal nonconforming depth (87 ft vs 125 ft required). The existing garage is deteriorating and structurally unsound.
• Staff testimony: Danny Jendusa noted a previous variance application in 2020 for the same property. The public notice incorrectly stated a 3-inch variance instead of 5.25 feet; this was acknowledged as a staff error.
• Applicant testimony: The Bjornsons described the poor condition of the garage, the need for a functional two-car garage, and the benefit of aligning the garage with the house for aesthetics. They have letters of support from neighbors.
• Board discussion: Members discussed corner lot constraints and supported the project. Member Dennis Beinke stated he knows the applicants but did not recuse and that his decision was not influenced.
• Vote on statutory factors: The Board voted on the five factors. On factor 1 (exceptional conditions): vote 5-0 aye. Factor 2 (unique property conditions): vote 3-2 aye (Beinke and Hrubes voted no). Factor 3 (conditions not self-created): 5-0. Factor 4 (deprivation of rights): 5-0. Factor 5 (no special privilege): 5-0. Then final motion to approve with no conditions passed 5-0.

Annual Election of Officers

• The Board elected Chairman Andy Day (moved by Scott Hrubes, seconded by Will Hubbard, voice vote all ayes) and Vice Chairman Steven Liddy (moved by Andy Day, seconded by Dennis Beinke, voice vote all ayes). Steven Liddy was absent.

Key Outcomes

• 9722 Twincrest Drive: The variance for a 2-foot side yard setback was approved with no conditions. The variance is valid for 180 days.
• 1001 Ferndale Avenue: The two variances for front yard setbacks (2 ft on Ferndale, 5.25 ft on Liggett) were approved with no conditions. The variance is valid for 180 days.
• Officers: Andy Day re-elected as Chair; Steven Liddy re-elected as Vice Chair.