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Zoning board approves small garage addition at 421 Briarwood Place
Summary
The Highland Park Zoning Board approved a variance allowing a modest garage reconfiguration and small encroachment into side and rear setbacks at 421 Briarwood Place, finding the requested change primarily repairs a deteriorated, nonconforming garage and follows existing building lines.
The City of Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals voted July 16 to grant a variance that allows a modest reconfiguration and expansion of a two‑car garage at 421 Briarwood Place.
Patrick, a city planning staff member, presented BAR 202600072, saying the 1926 home in the R‑5 zoning district seeks two variances: one to encroach 6 feet into a 9‑foot side‑yard setback and another to encroach roughly 9.45 feet into a 23‑foot rear‑yard setback for a new garage addition and reworked entry.
The homeowner (who identified himself in testimony as Adebedas, last name Tomkus) said a middle portion of the garage and a breezeway are deteriorated, the floor and walls no longer protect from weather, and the existing layout makes two-car parking difficult. He described an approach that largely follows the lines of the newer portion of the garage, encloses the breezeway and adds a mudroom/entry while pulling a small portion of the rear wall back into line with the existing garage.
Board members asked clarifying questions about which pieces of the structure are new versus existing, whether decks and sheds are permitted, and how much net new area would be created. Staff noted that much of the footprint is existing or previously permitted and that the actual additional new area was small — about 60 square feet — mostly consisting of closing the breezeway and squaring the garage to the house.
A neighbor, Jay Lavine of 422 Briarwood, spoke in support of the proposal. Several board members said the request is a modest repair and reconfiguration that follows existing lines; they found the standards were met and moved to approve the variance as drafted. A roll-call vote recorded the listed members voting "Aye." The motion passed.
The approved plan authorizes the garage reconfiguration and small encroachments; permitting and construction will proceed under normal city review.
