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Board approves 22-foot garage at Fishinger Road with windows and screening required
Summary
The board approved a variance to allow a 22-foot detached garage at 2459 Fishinger Road, setting conditions that require clearstory windows on the south facade and a landscape/tree-preservation plan to provide screening for neighbors.
The Board of Zoning and Planning on Feb. 25 approved variance application 05-26 for 2459 Fishinger Road to permit a new detached garage up to 22 feet tall with a 17-foot rear top wall plate, exceeding the typical 14-foot and 9-foot-6" plate limits. The approval carried conditions requiring additional clearstory windows on the south façade and a landscape/tree-preservation plan for screening.
City staff presented the application and said the applicant revised elevations to lower the overall height and address earlier concerns; staff noted some persistent concern about a blank rear façade facing neighboring yards. Amanda Dunfield, who identified herself as the applicant, confirmed the design changes and the plan notes that the garage area will not be used for commercial purposes or as overnight sleeping quarters.
Board members and staff discussed options to soften the garage's rear elevation, including high clerestory windows and plantings. A city staff member praised the applicant's redesign: "I just wanna thank the applicant for basically redesigning the garage since it was originally submitted. I think it helps bring the scale massing of it down." The board added a condition that the city forester approve the screening plan and tree-preservation plan prior to permit issuance.
The board voted in favor of the variance with findings numbers 4 and 8 and the stated conditions. The applicant and staff will work out details of allowable plantings and any necessary tree-preservation approvals as part of the permit and plan-review process.
