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Commission approves oversized garage on Skyline Drive after design revisions, requires landscaping and elevation changes
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a conditional‑use permit for a 40x46‑foot detached garage on Skyline Drive after the applicant agreed to drop the structure about 10 feet into the hillside, add stone and varied roof lines and enhance landscaping to screen the garage from the street.
The Planning Commission on May 22 approved a conditional use permit for an oversized detached garage on Skyline Drive after the applicant made significant design and siting changes to reduce the street presence and improve neighborhood compatibility.
Project details and staff analysis - Proposal: a 40‑by‑46‑foot detached garage southeast of an existing dwelling, with two double‑garage doors and extended driveway access. The property is in Park Forest zoning and the garage would be set behind the home and the existing treeline. - Revisions since the last hearing: the applicant shifted the garage farther south, "cut it into the hillside to drop the elevation of it approximately 10 feet," and revised elevations to add stone facing, an awning and varied roof lines to better match residential character, staff said. - Screening: the applicant committed to additional landscape plantings along both sides of the extended driveway and to preserve a row of existing trees along Skyline Drive; staff recommended stipulations requiring the landscaping and elevation details be built as shown.
Public and commission comments - The applicant’s representatives, TJ Watanowitz and Joshua Coles, described the compromises made and emphasized efforts to conceal the garage while preserving westward views. "Our goal of moving this back is to conceal it as much as possible, drop that elevation, conceal it as much as possible, but then also put trees and landscaping again to conceal the garage, but also preserve the westward views," Coles said. - Commissioners praised the redesign and the lower elevation; Commissioner Eric Hiekis singled out the 10‑foot cut as a meaningful improvement.
Action: Commissioner Vince moved to approve the conditional use permit with staff stipulations; Commissioner Mike Quasney seconded. The motion passed.
Ending: The permit includes typical stipulations to ensure the approved elevation, materials and landscape screening are installed and maintained; staff said it will enforce those conditions and follow up on any complaints.
