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East Troy homeowners seek garage variance for pie-shaped lot; town planning recommended approval
Summary
Dennis and Lori Gasak asked the Walworth County Board of Adjustment on March 12 for a variance to replace a failing garage at N9110 Ash Street in East Troy and to place a smaller replacement partially within the road and rear‑yard setbacks because their lot is pie‑shaped and historically constrained.
Dennis and Lori Gasak asked the Walworth County Board of Adjustment on March 12 for a variance to replace an aging, water‑damaged garage at N9110 Ash Street, East Troy, and to keep the new structure partially within the lot‑line setbacks applicable to their pie‑shaped property.
The ordinance requires a 25-foot street‑yard setback and a 25-foot rear‑yard setback for accessory structures in the shoreland zone; the Gasaks requested 16.6 feet from the road right of way and a 3-foot rear‑yard setback for part of the replacement garage footprint. Dennis said the existing garage and three sheds came with the property; the applicants have removed one shed and plan to remove another, consolidating storage into the new garage footprint. "We cut the garage smaller," Dennis said, and the town planning commission supported the smaller footprint and removal of the additional sheds.
The board discussed local topography, a stacked cobblestone retaining wall at the rear of the lot and the historic construction method of the existing garage (sill plate set on concrete and rot). Dennis said the existing garage is water‑damaged and will need replacement regardless of size. The town resolution in the file, read by staff, notes that many lots in the neighborhood predate current zoning and that a conventional home and garage could not be built to modern standards on similar parcels; the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval on March 5.
Board members discussed possible alternatives and emphasized the county’s duty to grant the minimum necessary relief. Dennis said neighbors had expressed support and that the town building inspector signaled readiness to issue a permit if county relief is granted. The hearing record includes the town resolution and the applicant’s written materials; no public opposition was recorded in the transcript. The hearing was closed on March 12; no final Board vote appears in the transcript excerpt.
