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Dear Planning Commission Members; Please consider our request for variance from the current 10 foot side property line setback requirements. We live at 1518 Briarknoll Drive and would like to convert our large 2 car garage into a small 3 car garage. We would like to have the new addition flush with the front of the house. Our current garage is just less than 11 feet from the property line and the setback is 10 feet. In order to convert the current 2 car garage into a 3 car garage we would need approval of approximately a 5 foot encroachment into the current 10 foot setback, we would still meet the 25 foot setback combined between the two side yards. This would allow us to add about 5 feet 10 inches of width to the current footprint of the two car garage and convert it into a 3 car garage. The next section addresses the 7 following requirements needed for variance approval. 1. The property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed by the official controls; 2. The plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner; 3. The deviation from the Ordinance with any attached conditions will still be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Ordinance; 4. The variance will not create a land use not permitted in the zone; S. The variance will not alter the essential character of the City; 6. The variance is not for economic reasons alone; 7. The proposed use is permitted within the zone. 1. The property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under conditions allowed by the official controls. A garage is considered reasonable use in a residential Rl zone. 2. The plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the landowner. Currently, the property shape is that of a slight parallelogram, slanting from the east to west as you travel from the back to front. I do not believe that we would need this variance if the property where rectangle in shape. The proposed garage addition is on the east side of the home and that is the side that hypothetically cuts into the property. It is our understanding that when the Briarknoll Neighborhood was developed there were many variances that where needed for development and all were unilaterally approved. I have noticed several homes in the neighborhood that do not appear to meet the side setback of 10 feet or have a minimum of 25 feet between the two setbacks and adjacent homes. We will still have a combined total of more than 25 feet between the two side property setbacks on our lot and approximately 23 feet between the garage addition and the neighbor's garage at the closest point. We could currently put a detached garage behind our home and meet all the requirements.