Auburn zoning board denies variance for large accessory structure at 732 Mercer Circle

The Board of Zoning Adjustment on Nov. 5 denied a variance request (BZ2025010) that would have allowed accessory structures to exceed 50% of the primary dwelling’s floor area at 732 Mercer Circle.

Planning staff said the applicant proposed a mainly two-story woodworking garage of about 960 square feet in the backyard and that the property is zoned Corridor Redevelopment District East (CRDE). Staff and the applicant provided differing measurements during the hearing: the original application listed the primary structure at about 1,100 square feet; a subsequent survey provided by the applicant adjusted that figure to about 1,246 square feet after removing a screened porch from heated-floor calculations. Staff…