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Board OKs garage in technical front yard after lot consolidation plan at 623 Cleveland Street
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved an area and dimensional variance allowing a detached garage to be built into the technical front yard at 623 Cleveland Street, contingent on lot consolidation and permitting steps.
The Middletown Board of Zoning Appeals voted to allow construction of a new detached garage at 623 Cleveland Street that will encroach into the property’s technical front yard after the owner consolidates adjoining lots.
Staff told the board the proposed garage would, as drawn, encroach about 24 feet into the technical front yard of the corner lot—roughly a 40% encroachment—and that detached garages are normally required in rear yards under the Middletown development Code section 12 0 6.01 and table 12 0 6 0 1. The application followed a recommended lot consolidation so the garage would not be built over lot lines.
Carl Lewis of Envision Property Maintenance, the applicant, said the existing garage is dilapidated and the new two‑car garage would be larger and set to the driveway; he said the construction likely will eliminate the property’s current pass‑through driveway and that any abandoned drive area would be returned to grass. "The garage that's currently there is pretty dilapidated...We're gonna tear it down and put a larger 2 car garage up," Lewis said.
Staff and the applicant told the board a professional survey and legal description will be required to complete the lot consolidation. One board member disclosed a recusal because of volunteer activity at a nearby community garden and left the hearing for that item.
A motion to approve the variance, citing criteria 1 and 5 (unique lot conditions and limited neighborhood impact), passed on a roll call vote with David Cash, Stefan Wanamaker, Gary Gross, Jerry Heidenreich, Thomas Evans and Mentel voting yes. Staff noted the lot consolidation and a final site survey are prerequisites before building permits and a certificate of zoning compliance can be issued.
The board placed no additional conditions beyond the standard requirements that the applicant complete the lot consolidation, provide the required site survey and submit plans meeting code standards.
