Zoning board denies homeowners’ request to keep converted garage as open-air accessory structure at 3978 Kenmore Road

The Berkeley Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, denied a requested dimensional variance that would have allowed an open-air accessory structure converted from an existing garage to remain 2.4 feet from the side lot line instead of the five feet required by the zoning code.

The board voted to deny the variance after hearing from the property owners and neighbors. The denial motion cited the zoning standard that the need for the variance was the result of actions by the property owner or previous owners. The roll-call vote recorded the motion as passing with members voting yes: Creel, Benedict, Cyr, Wilner, Branch and Chair McAlpine.

Planning staff presented the case, saying the applicants asked for a dimensional variance of 2.6 feet under the Berkeley City Code (Chapter 138, Article 9, Section 9.15.A.2) for an open-air accessory structure sited at approximately 2.4 feet from the side lot…