Board approves front- and side-yard variances for garage; firewall requirement upheld

The Board of Zoning Appeals on April 22 approved variances allowing Graham Henderson to build a detached garage closer to his house than zoning rules normally allow, but it rejected his request to remove a one-hour fire-rating wall requirement.

Henderson told the board the house was built at the lot line in 1923 and the proposed garage location is the only practical site. “That was my objective,” Henderson said while explaining constraints created by the existing house footprint. The board inspected the site and discussed how property-line setbacks — not neighbor house locations — determine the code requirements.

Chair said the board would treat the yard questions as one vote and the fire-rating matter separately. The board approved a variance to allow a 21-foot front yard where 30 feet is required and to permit a 0-foot side yard where 7 feet is required. When a separate motion sought to remove the one-hour fire-rating wall requirement for a garage located less than five feet from the property line, the board voted it down.

Because the firewall motion failed, Henderson must meet the code’s firewall requirement as a condition of his building permits. The chair said staff would provide a copy of the minutes and the applicant must secure the required permits before construction begins.