2008-09-02 P & Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dear Planning and Zoning Committee Members: I am writing with hopes of receiving your input on a home addition I am planning and a possible variance that would be needed to accomplish this project. I reside at 7280 Twin Lakes Avenue, which is on the comer of Twin Lakes and 73rd street. Before filing an official request for a variance, Mayor Capra suggested I contact you and get your thoughts as to whether or not this is a variance the Planning and Zoning committee would approve. If your response is favorable, I will certainly complete the application for a variance to present to the Planning and Zoning Committee at the September meeting. First, I will provide you with a brief history. At the end of May, I incurred the expense of having my property surveyed to obtain a Certificate of Surveyance. Mr. Paul Paulzer recommended this course of action so the property monument locations could be verified. It was a good idea as there was no Certificate of Survey on file at the city (Someone told me all homes should have one on file, supplied by the developer, before the lot was sold. I will supply the city with a copy.) Like so many Centerville residence, my house was damaged this summer from the hailstorm and high wind. Both the roof and siding need to be replaced. Because of this unfortunate event, I would like to take advantage of having a contractor on site and do some home improvements. The primary addition would be to the garage. (To support my proposal, I have included photos and a rough sketch of the lot, a bit crude and I hope you can read it.) Along with the house, my truck received about $4100 in damage as well. As you may know, when many of the homes in Centerville were built, the garages were not of the size to include today's larger vehicles. Right now, the depth of the garage does not accommodate my truck. Because of that, the vehicle is kept outside and is susceptible to storm damage and vandalism. By lengthening the garage, the vehicle could be kept inside, keeping it secure. I believe this is a benefit, not just to me certainly, but it helps keep insurance rates down for everybody as fewer insurance claims are filed. I for one do not like filing insurance claims. In fact (and fortunately), in the 14 years I have lived in my home, this is the first homeowner's claim I've had to submit. That being said, my comer lot is somewhat unique in that Twin Lakes Avenue curves as it approaches 73rd street (see sketch). If my understanding of current ordinance is correct, the foundation of the home has to have a 35 feet setback from the road easement. Due to this curvature of Twin Lakes A venue, there is room for a westward extension of my garage. (That is what I'm attempting to demonstrate with my crude graphics.) At the southwest comer of the foundation, there is room for about 1.5 feet of addition before reaching the 35 feet setback requirement. Looking at the double stall of the garage, the distance to the road easement increases to 40 feet at the northwest comer. Using the dimensions off of the documents provided by the surveyor, I have room to increase the length of the third stall of the garage about 1.5 feet and the first stall by 2.5 feet and be compliant with city ordinance, as I understand it correctly.