Location: 405 Sterling

ZBA Request: To allow a proposed garage to have 7 ½ feet between structures and to be 3 feet from the rear property line.  The required distance between structures is 10 feet and the required rear yard setback for an accessory structure is 5 feet.

Background: The property is zoned R-1 and is a corner lot with a lot depth of 85 feet.  The petitioner wishes to construct a 24 foot by 38 foot accessory garage to the rear of the house with access from Linden Street.  Because of the petitioner’s shallow rear yard, he is requesting a 2 ½ foot distance between structure variance and a 2 foot rear yard variance.  The placement of the proposed structure would leave 11 feet between the petitioner’s new garage and the neighbor’s structure.

Staff's Observations:

• It appears that the petitioner may not be able to receive reasonable return on his property without the addition of a garage. 

• There appear to be unique circumstances because the lot is a corner lot with a shallow rear yard. 

• It does not appear that the character of the neighborhood would be altered as other structures in the neighborhood are closer to property lines than required by code.

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the distance between structure variance and rear yard variance requests.