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<br />Ordinarily, it would be a simple matter to rebuild the garage on the existing pad, with doors <br />facing northward. This would not require special permission, and would perpetuate the existing <br />setbacks. However, due to the presence of a utility pole immediately north of the garage <br />approximately 6 ft from its northwest comer, this is not practical. Consequeotly, 1 am proposing <br />to rebuild this detached garage approximately 5 ft east of its present location. The resultant <br />minimum setbacks would be 5 1/2 ft from the west property line, and 6 2/3 ft from the south <br />property line. This proposed location will require I or 2 truckloads of fill to accomplish; a not <br />unreasonable amount. In contrast, establishing a replacement detached garage set back from the <br />street by 40 ft would require that the driveway extension and garage pad be constructed on 4-6 ft <br />of fill; a total of approximately 15 truckloads. This also would result in the loss of the relatively <br />level side yard, a precious commodity on a hillside lot <br /> <br />A theoretical alternative might be to construct a replacement structure of smaller square footage, <br />but taller than the existing garage, to achieve similar storage volume. Unfortunately, during the <br />Zoning Code's re-codification last year, despite the claim that no substantive changes were being <br />introduced, the rules for accessory structures were radically changed by the imposition of a <br />height limit of IS ft. Previously, height was limited only by that of the principal structure, which <br />can be as much as 35 ft. This action by the City, which artificially limits flexibility and <br />innovation, was not the result of any action or request of the Applicant, and therefore the present <br />lack of reasonable alternatives is not of the Applicant's creation. <br /> <br />Considering all the physical and administrative conditions present, I believe this request for a <br />variance to accommodate replacement of the existing detached garage is reasonable and <br />desirable. <br /> <br />Thank you for your consideration of this matter. <br /> <br />Richard Gonzalez <br />3441 Lake Johanna Boulevard <br />