What: variance requests where rooftop mechanical equipment on newly built commercial and apartment buildings is shorter on screening than the code requires (screen at least 6 inches above the tallest equipment).
Where it stands: On 2026-11-10 the Board of Adjustment approved variances for a 400-unit apartment building on South Andrews Avenue and for a large retail building at Andrews Avenue and Cypress Creek Road.
Next: Nothing pending from these cases.
Details
The apartment case covered 15 of 449 rooftop units, between about 2 and 15 inches short; staff and the architect said equipment sizes and tenant needs often change between design approval and construction.
The retail case requested 7 feet 10 inches, measured against the lowest parapet; applicants showed sight lines and landscape buffers and said taller parapets would need major structural work.
Board members said the code's intent (not seeing equipment from the street) was met. The parties are private and are not named here.