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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Exception for Minor Area Modification to allow a garage addition at 2125 Polk Drivejr T& crry OF AMES., IOWA ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTME -1 - ----------- - IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF KOENIG FOR AN EXCEPTION FOR MINOR AREA MODIFICATION, SECTION 29.1506, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ALLOW A GARAGE ADDITION ON TtIE PROPERTY LOCATED A,r 2125 POLIO DRIVE FACTS CASE NO. 12-23 G'EOCODE NO. 05-27-352-050 DECISION & ORDER The property at this address is a single family, two story owner Occupied residence with an attached two car garage. It is in an IZL (l-ow Density Residential) zoning district. The home sits on the north side of the street on a wedge shaped lot whose front width is 70 feet wide and whose depth ranges from 129 feet deep on the cast side to 148 feet deep on the west. The front of the home was built parallel to the front property line and the garage is on the cast end of the home. The owner was before this Board in August with a request For an Exception r-or Minor Area Modification, since at that time lie believed that the Very southeast corner of the home was eight feet from the cast property line. The request at that time was to be allowed to reduce the setback from eight feet to six feet to build a larger garage. The exception was granted, but when the owner was ready to build, a SUINCY Of the lot found that the side yard setback was actually ten feet which, with the planned construction, still meets the necessary setback distance for a two story home. The homeowner decided that lie wanted a larger garage addition, if'possible, so lie is again seeking an Exception for Minor Area Modification to reduce the setback to six feet so that he can build a larger garage than originally planned. The dimensions of'the existing garage are small for a two car garage, as the door is sixteen feet wide. This makes it a very tight fit for two larger vehicles. Rather than a two toot addition, though, file 110111COWFICr Would like to build an addition to the garage which would increase the width of that room by four feet. This size of addition Would result in a triangular portion of the 4rdchtion extending into the setback by two feet. The homeowner is seeking an exception for minor area iriodification to allow this larger garage addition. The encroachment into the side yard Would be by two feet at its widest. Although this home is classified as a two story, the part of the house that has the second story is in the center part of the structure and the garage portion is only one story tall. The ]ionic immediately to the east of this one is oriented Such that its garage is on the west side of the lot, so both horses have the shorter part of each next to one another. The addition, therefore, will not place a tall, blank wall right next to the main living area of the neighboring borne. The homes on this block were generally built With distances between them that are greater than the mirunnin't and that would still be the ease here, so the separation between homes will not appear to be diminished as the distance between the homes will still be at least 21 feet. The neighbor next door is concerned that a larger garage will create storm water drainage issues as well as creating a shadow on his property. 7 1 � DECISION The Board considers the evidence presented concerning this latest request in light Of the standards applicable to Minor area modifications. The Board finds that there arc practical difficulties associated with this property's shape that make a conventional addition challenging, even when it is a small addition, but a small addition, in line with the owners original scheme, can be achieved in compliance with the restrictions of the zoning ordinance. Granting an exception in light of the changed facts regarding the location of the property line is not necessary to achieve the results the homeowncrs need. AlthOLH,111 the use authorized by this exception will still be residential, a larger garage will create more runoff and cast a larger shadow, which may be detrimental to adjoining property. Since the homeowner can by right add what he earlier sought an exception for, the Board is not satisfied that the standards have been met to grant this request. ORDER WIIEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is Denied an Exception for Minor Area Modif-ication, section 29.1506(4)(c) of the Ames Municipal Code, to allow a garage addition that reduces the setback from eight feet to six feet on the east side, all for the property located at 2125 Polk Drive. Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after the filing of this decision. [)one this 14t" clay of November, 2012. Jill Ripperger Secretary to the Board