Lorraine zoning board denies front-yard accessory-building variance at 5520 W. Erie Ave.

David R. Salent asked the City of Lorraine Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 3 to allow a 60-foot by 40-foot accessory building at 5520 West Erie Avenue, a request the board denied. The board voted to deny a variance that would have allowed an accessory garage totaling 3,072 square feet in the front yard; the variance would have exceeded the permitted maximum aggregate accessory area of 780 square feet by 2,292 square feet.

The request mattered because the current zoning code prohibits accessory structures in front yards and sets a 780-square-foot aggregate limit for accessory buildings. Planning staff told the board the requested structure would be substantially larger than code allows and that other applicants had been denied similar front-yard accessory structures to remain consistent with previous decisions.

Salent told the board he planned to add a 60-by-40-foot building by attaching to an existing detached garage. "We cannot add to the back of the garage because I have geothermal, and my wells are back there," Salent said, adding his wells run horizontally and would be damaged by construction. Staff replied that because the home has an attached garage, extending that attached garage would be a potential code-compliant alternative. Planning staff said in their recommendation that the applicant could achieve additional covered space by extending the attached garage instead of adding a front-yard detached structure.

Board members emphasized consistency with prior decisions. One board member said, "We've been fairly consistent with what you're asking for, telling other people you can't do it," and expressed doubt the requested detached structure in the front yard "would fly in this current configuration." Brandon Wysocki moved to deny the variance; the motion was supported and carried. The meeting record shows the motion passed on a voice vote.

The board returned the applicant to staff for follow-up. Chair Ray Carreon encouraged Salent to meet with planning, building and engineering staff to explore alternatives. "Perhaps there are other options that could be considered," Carreon said, and staff agreed to continue discussions to find a compliant solution.

What happens next: The denial was final for the application as presented. Staff advised the applicant to work with planning and building to submit alternative plans that might comply with setback and geothermal constraints.