Duplex Conversion Denied Again by Zoning Board

A Kent man's request to convert his single-family home into a duplex has again failed to garner any support from the Kent Board of Zoning Appeals.

Daniel Rodriguez has twice asked the zoning board for two variances — first in October and again Monday — to convert his single-family house at 1701 Athena Drive into a duplex.

Both times, Rodriguez's request has been denied through the zoning board's lack of a motion supporting the conversion request.

Rodriguez was asking for two variances: a 484.5 square foot variance from the 12,000 square foot minimum lot size for a two-family dwelling in an R-3 district, and; a 21-foot variance from the 75-foot minimum lot width at the building line to allow a single family home to be converted to a duplex.

Rodriguez said he wanted to turn the basement of the house into a second unit and would provide parking in the rear of the house. A member of the Campus Crusade for Christ at nearby , Rodriguez planned to solicit tenants from the group, according to his conversion application to the city.

In his conversion request, Rodriguez offered to operate the duplex only while he owned the property and proposed that it revert to single-family zoning if and when he sells the house.