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Board denies garage enlargement at 1000 Shirley, citing existing nonconformity
Summary
The Board denied a request to expand an attached garage at 1000 Shirley after members concluded the house’s placement and lot constraints did not create the special conditions needed to expand an existing nonconformity.
The Board of Zoning Appeals denied a variance request for 1000 Shirley (appeal 25-10) that would have expanded an attached garage and increased a rear-yard encroachment by about 1.75 feet beyond the existing nonconforming projection.
City staff said the existing attached garage already projected into the 30-foot rear-yard setback; the property’s front half lies in a floodplain and the house was built on an angled footprint before current zoning. The applicant’s architect said the proposal would increase garage depth and add a single 18-foot door to better accommodate modern vehicles while preserving the home’s character.
Board discussion and outcome: Members examined alternatives (stepping the garage, reorienting doors, detached garages, and the feasibility of moving the garage toward the house). Several board members said they appreciated the architectural sensitivity but concluded the literal enforcement of the ordinance did not create an undue hardship because the owner already had a functioning garage and the request would exacerbate an existing nonconformity. The motion to deny carried on roll call.
Practical effect: The denial ends the current application; the owner may reapply with substantially different plans but the board signaled skepticism about requests that expand nonconformities.
