Board Grants Side‑yard Setback Variance for Garage at 8700 Primrose Drive

On Dec. 3, 2025, the St John Town Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a requested variance allowing homeowner Brian O'Brien to construct a garage addition 5 feet from the northern property line at 8700 Primrose Drive, reducing the required 8‑foot side yard setback by 3 feet.

Brian O'Brien testified that he seeks permission to move the proposed garage's north wall three feet into the property easement to create the addition. "I'm requesting that I be allowed to, move the garage outside north wall 3 feet into the property easement, between myself and the next door neighbor's fence," O'Brien told the board, adding that the extension would have a garage door facing the street and a man door on the rear and that a firewall and header would separate the new work from the existing kitchen wall.

Planning staff presented a Google Earth overview and explained that the lot is a corner parcel that was built to a 20‑foot building setback when platted, producing roughly a 25‑foot separation to the northern boundary; R‑2 zoning requires an 8‑foot side yard setback. Staff said no remonstrance letters had been received.

A board member moved to grant the variance and read findings of fact supporting approval, noting the board's determination that approval would not injure public health, safety or the use and value of adjacent property and that strict application of the ordinance would result in practical difficulties for the homeowner. The motion was seconded and passed 4‑0.

Next steps: the variance was approved by the appeals board; any building permits or state plan reviews required for construction remain subject to standard permitting and inspection procedures.