Appeals officer authorizes permit to rebuild and modestly expand failing garage at 8432 S. Kings Hill Road

Appeals hearing officer Frank Nakamura authorized a permit for reconstruction and a modest expansion of a legal-nonconforming garage at 8432 South Kings Hill Road after city staff recommended approval and the property owner described urgent safety concerns.

City planning staff, speaking at the hearing, described the application as an expansion of a structure that predated the city's incorporation and is therefore legally nonconforming. The subject lot is listed in the record as 0.23 acres with a zoning designation noted in the submittal as R 18. Staff said the proposal would expand the garage roughly 3 feet to the south and 7 feet toward the rear, increasing the garage footprint from about 600 square feet to 1,754 square feet (approximately 880 square feet per floor as presented). Staff recommended approval, finding the reconstruction and modest expansion preserved the structure's height and neighborhood character and did not impose an unreasonable burden on nearby properties. The staff presentation cited municipal code provisions (including Section 19.88.070 and related subsections) as the authority for the appeals officer's review.

Property owner Guadiminas Grigilius told the hearing his home’s garage foundation and retaining wall have deteriorated and need reconstruction ‘‘before it causes bigger problems,’’ and said the new garage would remain visually consistent with the house. ‘‘We're just trying to take care of our home responsibly and safely,’’ Grigilius said, adding he had solicited neighbors' input and provided a neighborhood support letter for the record. City staff also said notices were mailed to 44 property owners and that two inquiries expressing support were received.

General contractor Billy Freeland told the hearing the foundation is moving and offered photographs showing the failing condition. In a verbal summary of findings, Appeals Officer Frank Nakamura said the proposed work would minimally increase the existing nonconformity (the north-side setback was recorded in the staff report as about 9 feet 3 inches while the ordinance requires 12 feet per side) but would maintain height and architectural compatibility. Citing the code and staff's analysis, Nakamura said he would issue a written opinion and authorized the applicant to obtain a building permit for reconstruction and expansion, subject to meeting standard city building-permit requirements.

The decision is recorded as an authorization by the appeals officer; no formal vote tally was taken in the hearing transcript. The officer said the written opinion will be provided to the city and the applicant, and that the applicant must obtain required building permits and comply with other city requirements before construction begins.

Record details: the staff report and the applicant's narrative and drawings were entered into the record and will accompany the written decision. The hearing concluded with procedural notes about minutes and adjournment.