Item 5 - 4488 Soda RidgeCase No.
ZBA25-0015
S T A F F R E P O R T
November 7, 2025
CASE NO: ZBA25-0015
PROJECT: 4488 Soda Ridge Road – Special Exception Use for an Accessory Building
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Gary and Amanda Gray are requesting a Special Exception Use per Zoning Ord. No.
480, as amended, Section 44.12(1), for a domestic employee or family quarters on
the property described as Lot 9R, Block B, Lakewood Ridge Addition, and located at
4488 Soda Ridge Road. Current Zoning: “SF-1A” Single Family Residential District.
SPIN Neighborhood #1.
REQUEST: The purpose of this request is to seek approval for a Special Exception Use (SEU) for
an existing domestic employee or family quarters located within an accessory
building. The current owners are submitting this request because the accessory
structure was originally approved through a residential accessory building permit and
did not include SEU approval for domestic employee or family quarters. Per Section 4
of Zoning Ordinance No. 480, as amended, domestic employee or family quarters
include provisions for sleeping, cooking, and sanitation. At the time of the original
permit, the building included facilities for sanitation but not for sleeping and cooking.
The accessory building is located northwest of a drainageway within a flowage
easement, off N. White Chapel Boulevard, and behind the principal residence. The
accessory structure complies with the setback requirements established for the “SF-
1A” zoning district.
The previous owner obtained a residential accessory building permit for a two-story
structure with a full bathroom, hobby space, and game room. The stated purpose was
storage, hobby space for the children who were homeschooled, and a game room
and workspace for the owner. The bathroom was included due to the distance
between the accessory building and the main residence, which are separated by a
watercourse.
The structure, as constructed, is a two-story accessory building with approximately
532 square feet of living area on the first floor and 487 square feet on the second
floor. Interior renovations were completed without permits by the previous owners to
include a small kitchen and bedroom on the first floor and a bathroom and furnace
room on the second floor.
During the original permit review process, City Staff noted that “the accessory building
is an accessory use to the principal residence and renting it out would be a violation of
the Zoning Ordinance. Furthermore, the accessory building cannot be used as a
dwelling unit or for any habitation without approval of a Special Exception Use for a
Domestic Employee or Family Quarters by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, in
Department of Planning & Development Services
Case No.
ZBA25-0015
accordance with Zoning Ordinance No. 480, Section 44.12(1), and in conformance
with all applicable building codes.” Accordingly, a Special Exception Use (SEU) was
not requested or approved for the accessory building at the time of the original
permitting.
ACTION NEEDED: 1) Conduct a Public Hearing
2) Consider Approval of a SEU
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
(C) Surrounding Property Owners Map and Responses
(D) Plans and Support Information
STAFF CONTACT: Cyndi Cheng (817) 748-8269
Jennifer Crosby (817) 748-8195
Case No. Attachment A
ZBA25-0015 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
OWNER: Gary and Amanda Gray
APPLICANT: Same as Owner
PROPERTY SITUATION: 4488 Soda Ridge Road
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 9R, Block B, Lakewood Ridge Addition
LAND USE CATEGORY: Low Density Residential
CURRENT ZONING: “SF-1A” Single Family Residential District
HISTORY: A plat for Lakewood Ridge Addition was filed in 1977.
The existing home on the property was built in 1988 (Source: DCAD).
The property was annexed into the City in 1988 and given the “AG”
Agricultural District zoning designation.
The property was given the “SF-1A” Single Family Residential District zoning
designation with the adoption of Ord. No. 480 on September 5, 1989.
A Plat Revision (ZA21-0001) for Lot 9R, Block B, Lakewood Ridge Addition to
combine Lots 9 and 13, Block B, Lakewood Ridge Addition was approved on
February 23, 2021 and recorded April 26, 2021.
Note: The original owner intended to construct the accessory building on what
was previously Lot 13. In accordance with Section 34.2.c of Zoning Ordinance
No. 480, as amended, the lots were required to be combined before
construction of the accessory building, since an accessory use must be
located on the same lot as the principal use.
A Variance (ZBA21-0017) to Zoning Ordinance No. 480, as amended, Section
11.5.c requiring a side yard of not less than 20’ was approved to allow
additions to the principal residence.
A residential accessory building permit (RACB21-0048) was issued in July
2021 for an accessory building with a bathroom, hobby space, and game
room. It was noted in the permit that the accessory building cannot be used as
a dwelling unit or for any habitation without approval of a Special Exception
Use for a Domestic Employee or Family Quarters by the Zoning Board of
Adjustment per Zoning Ordinance No. 480, Section 44.12(1).
WATER & SEWER: There is a 12-inch water line along N. White Chapel Boulevard and an 8-inch
water line along Soda Ridge Road. City sewer is not available to the property.
The existing home uses a septic system.
STAFF COMMENTS: The application and exhibits are provided in this Staff Report.
The findings necessary for the Board to approve a Special Exception Use are
Case No. Attachment A
ZBA25-0015 Page 2
below:
1) No special exception shall be granted unless the Board finds that the
requested exception is specifically permitted by the zoning ordinance;
2) That the location of the proposed activities and improvements is
clearly defined on the concept plan or plot plan, and
3) That the special exception is wholly compatible with the use and
permitted development of adjacent properties either as filed or subject
to such limitations and requirements as the board deems to be
necessary to protect adjacent properties.
The requirements for Special Exception Use Permit for domestic employee or
family quarters in Zoning Ord. 480, Section 44.12(1) are below:
a) Domestic employee or family quarters, which are not otherwise
permitted as an accessory use under Section 34.1 of this ordinance,
are permitted in districts zoned AG, RE-5, RE-7, RCS, SF1-A, SF1-B,
SF-2, SF-30, and approved single family residential uses in the DT
zone.
b) Domestic employee or family quarters are only for residents employed
on the premises or family members of the owner of the premises and
shall not be rented or otherwise used as a separate domicile.
c) The quarters shall be accessory to and subordinate to the principal
single-family use and structure except that the gross inhabitable floor
area shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) square feet in districts
zoned SF-30 and shall not be counted toward the sum total of
accessory building area, but shall be counted toward the maximum
permitted lot coverage.
d) All utilities must be on the same meter as the principal dwelling.
e) A separate septic system from the principal dwelling is required if the
quarters are housed other than in the principal dwelling and cannot be
accommodated by the existing system.
Case No. Attachment A
ZBA25-0015 Page 3
Case No. Attachment B
ZBA25-0015 Page 4
SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS MAP & RESPONSES
Responses: F: In Favor O: Opposed To U: Undecided NR: No Response
SPO
#
Owner Zoning Physical Address Acreage Response
1 GIBBENS, DYAN M & JEFFREY JR SF1-A 4527 N WHITE CHAPEL
BLVD
0.71 NR
2 KAISARINE & ERIC HOLDINGS LLC AG 4500 N WHITE CHAPEL
BLVD
0.21 NR
3 FISHER, JULIAN CHARLES LON &
BROOKE COLLEEN
SF1-A 4492 SODA RIDGE RD 1.44 NR
4 MAGETO, YOLANDA N & SALMON,
MICHAE A
SF1-A 4506 SODA RIDGE RD 0.14 NR
5 SADDLEBACK ACRES LP SF1-A 4490 N WHITE CHAPEL
BLVD
0.09 NR
6 HALBERT, RAYMOND KEITH & LISA
LYNN
SF1-A 4440 N WHITE CHAPEL
BLVD
1.31 NR
7 BABARIA, MANU SF1-A 4491 SODA RIDGE RD 0.68 NR
8 ESCOBEDO, ALBERTO G SF1-A 4426 SODA RIDGE RD 1.67 NR
9 KOLTER, THOMAS & NANCY NICOL SF1-A 4427 SODA RIDGE RD 0.54 NR
10 PISANI, DEAN C & JACQUELINE S
TRS D J PISANI FAMILY TRUST
RE5 300 W BOB JONES RD 0.22 NR
11 ANDERSON, RICHARD JOSEPH TR
ANDERSON REVOCABLE LIVING
TRUST
SF1-A 4553 N WHITE CHAPEL
BLVD
2.63 NR
12 SPARKS, MONTY E & GAIL K SF1-A 4520 SODA RIDGE RD 1.15 NR
Case No. Attachment B
ZBA25-0015 Page 5
13 KOLTER, THOMAS & NANCY NICOL SF1-A 4429 SODA RIDGE RD 0.11 NR
14 HURST, EDWARD SF1-A 4382 SODA RIDGE RD 1.73 NR
15 FELDMAN, MATTHEW W & LINDA T SF1-A 4383 SODA RIDGE RD 1.96 NR
16 SUPERINTENDENT OF CARROLL ISD NR
17 SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAPEVINE
COLLEYVILLE ISD
NR
18 SUPERINTENDENT OF NORTHWEST
ISD
NR
19 SUPERINTENDENT OF KELLER ISD NR
1000 GRAY, GARY L JR & GRAY, AMANDA
M
SF1-A 4488 SODA RIDGE RD 1.59
Notices Sent: Nineteen (19)
Responses Received: No responses.
Case No. Attachment C
ZBA25-0015 Page 6
SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE APPLICATION
AND SUPPORTING EXHIBITS