The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4–1 to grant a variance that will allow a two-story detached garage to be rebuilt closer to the rear property line at 4021 Colorado Avenue.

Homeowner Mark Sittig said the existing garage is about 22 by 22 feet (roughly 484 square feet) and that the proposed building would replace it with a larger two-story structure — the submitted plans listed the new building at roughly 1,050 square feet — which triggers the 20-foot rear setback requirement because the footprint exceeds 700 square feet. Sittig described the hardship as a desire to retain backyard green space for his young children and to avoid adding additional impervious driveway area that would result from moving the new garage 10 feet farther toward the house; he also said he sought interior, conditioned workspace above the garage for telehealth work and a small home gym.

The zoning administrator explained that by code a structure under 700 square feet can sit 10 feet from an alley-facing garage door, but larger footprints must meet a 20-foot rear setback. Several neighbors said they had been notified and did not object. During deliberations one member said the variance would reduce the creation of additional impervious surface and the construction of a new, insulated structure could reduce other neighborhood impacts compared with alternative solutions.

After discussion the board approved the variance 4–1. The chair announced the motion passed and instructed the owner to work with the codes office on permitting. No specific permit conditions beyond standard code compliance were announced at the hearing.

The board’s approval means the owner may demolish the existing garage and construct the new two-story building in the proposed footprint; because demolition removes the prior nonconforming structure, the project required a variance rather than administrative approval.