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Board approves setback variances for lakefront garage at 796 North Lake Drive
Summary
The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved variances April 9 allowing a 28‑ft garage at 796 North Lake Drive to sit 15 ft from the street where 20 ft is required and 3 ft from the north property line where the existing structure is essentially on the lot line; applicant must comply with fire‑rating and provide neighbor sign‑off for permit.
The Watertown Board of Adjustment voted unanimously April 9 to grant setback variances for a proposed detached garage at 796 North Lake Drive.
Staff told the board the lot is zoned R1. The applicant, Rex Gerber, asked to replace existing accessory structures with a single‑level, 28‑foot‑wide garage and requested two setback variances: a 15‑foot setback from the street where a 20‑foot setback is required for garages with doors facing the street, and a 3‑foot north side‑yard setback where the current structure sits essentially at the lot line. Staff said the overall square footage of the new garage complies with zoning; the requested relief is limited to setbacks.
Gerber said the reduced setbacks allow room for a paved driveway on the south side to preserve a strip of grass for drainage and to provide safer access for equipment to the shoreline. "I want to build a 28‑ft wide garage ... I want to leave a small strip of grass there for drainage," Gerber said. He told the board he had discussed the plan with the adjacent neighbor, who reportedly had no objection, but he did not bring a signed adjacency letter to the hearing and offered to supply one for the permit record.
Board members questioned whether a future widening of North Lake Drive would affect the garage's usability. Brandy, responding for staff, said North Lake Drive is a minor collector with a 66‑foot right‑of‑way and an existing street width of roughly 34 feet; a typical reconstruction might add about 3 feet but would likely not shift the alignment substantially. Staff also noted the applicant agreed to comply with the fire‑code firewall requirement for a closer setback.
A motion to pass the variance was made and seconded; the board then voted by roll call with six yes votes, zero no votes, and the variance was granted. The applicant was asked to supply a signed neighbor agreement and to meet standard building‑permit conditions, including any required firewall or drywall upgrades and coordination on driveway paving and drainage.
