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Commission approves conversion of 4-car garage to duplex behind 501–503 W. Lincoln with parking variance
Summary
The Planning Commission approved CU-03-2025 to split the parcel and convert a four-car garage behind 501–503 West Lincoln Street into a duplex, subject to obtaining a variance for parking in the required front yard; vote was 3–1.
The City of Findlay Planning Commission on Feb. 13 approved conditional-use application CU-03-2025, allowing Robert (Bob) Weinberg to split the parcel behind 501 and 503 West Lincoln Street and convert an existing four-car garage into a two-unit residential building, contingent on a variance to allow parking in the required front yard.
Staff reported the garage was originally built in 1976 with the intent of residential use above it; a 1992 variance addressed reduced rear-yard setbacks. The proposed new lot meets the R-3 small-lot minimum lot size of 3,500 square feet (proposed lot 3,556 sq ft) and falls below the lot-coverage limit (about 32%). The proposed living areas exceed the minimum floor area for two-story units (1,150 sq ft reported vs. 1,000 sq ft minimum). However, because the newly split parcel would front on Heard Avenue, the proposed four off-street parking spaces would be in the parcel's required front yard, which the code prohibits; staff recommended approval conditioned on the applicant receiving the necessary parking variance.
Weinberg told the commission there is an existing sewer and a water line has been extended to the garage; he said he had not yet decided to proceed immediately with conversion but had prepared utility connections. The proposal includes adding three parking spaces north of the primary building and one along the side; commissioners discussed parking dimensions, tight clearances on Heard Avenue and the possibility of angled parking to improve maneuverability. Commissioners noted that several similar accessory buildings and garages exist in the neighborhood and that the structure had prior approvals for residential use.
A motion to approve CU-03-2025 with the condition that the applicant obtain the variance for parking in the required front yard passed on a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript: Ms. Schroeder, aye; Mr. Klinger, aye; Rob Martin, aye; Mr. Chumbley (recorded as the lone no), no. The commission recorded the approval by a 3–1 vote.
The applicant must secure the parking variance and any construction permits before converting the garage to a duplex.
