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Commission approves design variance permitting a 235 sq ft garage overage with conditions
Summary
After staff flagged some variance criteria as only partially met, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a design variance allowing an accessory garage to exceed the principal residence gross floor area by 235 square feet, conditioning approval on meeting the fire department's requirements.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a design-variance request June 8 to allow an accessory garage that exceeds the principal residence’s gross floor area by about 235 square feet.
Staff recommended denial in the written report, finding some variance criteria only partially met; staff cited concerns that the proposed alternative did not clearly meet all design-standard intents. At the hearing, staff walked commissioners through the permit history, noting an initial permit in 2019 and later work in 2023 that complicated permit closure.
Property owner and builder Derrick Lampard testified he submitted a garage amendment to an earlier permit and later used insulating concrete forms that enlarged the exterior dimensions, resulting in the 235-square-foot overage. He told the commission he had no ill intent and said, "I will admit that I am in violation of the code," and described the house as not prominent from the road on a large lot.
Commissioners asked whether required fire-department driveway/turnaround improvements could be met. Lampard said he had discussed the matter with a fire representative; staff clarified that formal, documented fire-department approval should be a condition of any variance approval. Commissioner McKee moved to grant the variance subject to the conditions listed in the staff report (including documented fire-department approval). Commissioner Gardner seconded the motion; commissioners spoke in support, citing large lot size and limited visual dominance of the accessory structure. The commission voted to approve the variance. The transcript did not record a numerical roll-call tally.
Why it matters: The variance permits the existing accessory structure to remain without demolition, contingent on conditions intended to address safety and permit closure. Staff and commissioners emphasized that some technical issues — including drainage and permit closeout items — will still be resolved through permit review and conditions.
What’s next: The variance approval is conditioned on items in the staff report; the property owner must obtain required approvals (for example, formal fire-department sign-off) to fully close permits and realize the variance.
