Board approves variance for Habitat to add 20x24 garage at 402 Allen Street

Board of Adjustment Vice Chair John Beckman and a majority of members approved a variance Sept. 23 allowing Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity to construct a 20-foot by 24-foot detached garage at 402 Allen Street that will increase lot coverage above current zoning limits. The variance authorizes roughly 480 square feet of rear-yard coverage and raises total lot coverage to about 1,943 square feet (approximately 39 percent), above the 35 percent (1,750 square feet) maximum and above the 30 percent rear-yard maximum (450 square feet). Staff told the board the property is in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District and has been zoned C-1 since 1969. Planning staff reported the lot currently has about 1,463 square feet of coverage, leaving roughly 287 square feet before the 35 percent limit; adding a 480-square-foot garage would put the total at about 1,943 square feet, exceeding the 35 percent maximum by about 193 square feet and the 30 percent rear-yard maximum by about 30 square feet. Staff recommended approval, saying the proposed garage would not be out of character for the neighborhood and that no public opposition had been received. Andy Conger, construction director for Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, said the organization prefers to preserve trees where possible and that a two-car, 20-by-24-foot garage would be “more appealing to prospective buyers” than a smaller 14-by-24 option. There were no speakers at the meeting who opposed the request. A board member moved to approve the variance, the motion was seconded, and the board voted in favor by voice vote. The board’s approval was limited to the variances as presented; no additional conditions were recorded in the meeting minutes. The applicant will need to follow the city’s permitting processes for any work authorized by the variance.