Board approves carport and exterior alterations for 3316 Illinois with one area variance

The Board of Adjustment voted to approve one area variance for 3316 Illinois Avenue, allowing an accessory carport and related exterior repairs and alterations.

Andy Powers, the city’s zoning plan examiner, presented the case and said the proposed carport would be 22 feet 10 inches from the rear property line, requiring a single area variance because accessory garages in the district are limited to five feet from the rear lot line. Architect Mike Killeen testified that the existing garage is from the 1920s and undersized; he called the project a partial rebuild and explained the carport will improve accessibility and avoid costly excavation on a sloped site. “The rebuild of the existing garage ... it's a worn out old garage probably from the twenties, and it's undersized for today's, you know, 2 car needs,” Killeen said.

Neighbor and property owner Michael Meehan, who lives at the adjacent address, spoke in favor and said the aligned carport and garage would look less haphazard and help maintain property values. The applicant also submitted an emailed letter of support from Timothy Mulligan, chair of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association building review committee; the architect said the committee conditionally supported the setback due to the lack of a house to screen the accessory structure.

The board asked staff to accept into the record the exhibits (zoning ordinance, plans, Sanborn maps, memos) and confirmed that the two parcels on the plan had been consolidated earlier in the year, which affected the accessory‑structure rules. After questions, members moved to approve the one area variance; the motion carried in open session and staff will update the file and notify the applicant by mail.

Provenance: staff presentation and applicant testimony (topicintro: SEG 735; topfinish: SEG 1231).