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Board allows homeowner to rebuild attached garage destroyed by fire, reversing planning determination
Summary
The Zoning Board granted an appeal on Sept. 11 allowing a homeowner to rebuild an attached garage destroyed in a June 2024 fire, finding the garage's preexisting permit and long-standing existence justified verification of nonconforming rights; the vote was 6-0.
The Anchorage Zoning Board on Sept. 11 reversed a planning determination and granted an appeal allowing a homeowner in Eagle River to rebuild an attached garage destroyed by fire.
Project manager Devin Goode told the board the garage was originally permitted by the Greater Anchorage Borough in 1976 and had been standing for decades before the June 2024 fire. He said the house (about 1,080 square feet) and the garage were lawfully established and that rebuilding the garage to its prior dimensions is necessary to restore mechanical systems and enable the family to return home.
Planning staff recommended denial, saying the house had nonconforming rights but the 780-square-foot attached garage did not because it was constructed after current zoning rules were adopted. Staff noted no written public objections were received after 235 notices were mailed.
Board members who spoke in favor cited the original building permit and the practical hardship of forcing a family to reconfigure a small home in order to replace mechanical systems. Dave Hale moved to grant the appeal to the verification of nonconforming status; the motion was seconded by Craig Bennett. The board voted 6-0 to grant the appeal.
The board's action restores the applicant's ability to rebuild the garage consistent with the dimensions described in the appeal; parties have 30 days from mailing of the decision to appeal to superior court if they wish.
