DOVER — The city’s Board of Adjustment granted a variance for 1494 McKee Road on Wednesday, the first step in turning the lot into a community center that backs up to The Meadows neighborhood.
The variance, which is an exception to a city rule, deals with maximum setback requirements. Currently, McKee Road has 40-foot minimum and 50-foot maximum setback restrictions, meaning the front of a building must be between 40-50 feet from the street.
The parcel in question, however, has a peculiar shape. A narrow part touches the road, with properties on both sides, but the site becomes much wider after it extends behind them.
Because of the shape, applicant Abhay Patel believes it is virtually impossible to build anything within 200 feet of the road, let alone 50. So, the application argues that removing that 40-50-foot requirement falls under “exceptional practical difficulties.”
The plot would also be walkable from the Fox Hall development.
Nik Patel, representing the owner at the meeting, relayed the vision for the community center.
“This property is currently owned by a member of our community. It has been up for sale for a while, and talks formed between (the owner) and the members of the community that this land is going to be donated or is potentially looking to be donated to our community for a potential community center, which is a way for the owner to give back to us,” he said.
He also sought to alleviate fears the property would be developed commercially.
“This is not something that’s proposed to be open to the public. It’s not going to be for commercial use. It’s not going to be used for rentals or anything like that,” he said. “This is strictly going to be used for our community for gatherings and a place for our seniors to gather and enjoy.”
Though the hearing was only meant to decide on the variance, some Meadows residents voiced concerns about water runoff, noise and property values. And one spoke about the effect of the project on the ecosystem, as the location is presently wooded.
“I live on the opposite side of the property on Brandywine, which is backed by city of Dover property,” Logan Klein said. “On that property, we have a large number of small predators, owls, turkey vultures, a family of foxes that live in the area.
“There is a nightly parade of them, as they move their way across the (Meadows) properties to hunt in this wetland area. This is where their primary food source lies. And, if we remove that, we’re going to see an exodus of those animals from the area,” he added.
Regardless of the opposition, the variance passed unanimously, but this is only the first move. Multiple permits and site plan approvals must go through the city over the next year, including further public hearings, before construction can begin.
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