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# 10) Part D: Narrative Explanation of why this permit is needed We have developed an overall plan in working with an architect to better meet our family needs and improve the overall appearance and functioning of our home. That plan includes upgrading to a two-car garage, adding main floor living space, reworking some of the layout and use of rooms, and creating more bedroom space above the garage. To do this plan, we need a setback permit to build a two-car garage the same distance off the West side lot line as it exists currently. The existing attached garage (built in 1953) is 4 feet 8 inches from our West side lot line. Current code requires a minimum setback of 10 feet for a side lot line. The existing one-car garage does not meet our growing family needs well, obviously only allowing for one of our two vehicles to be protected inside, and is small by today's standards. Again, that is the part requiring the setback permit. Additionally we have a need to increase our main floor living space, create a dining area, and eliminate a sunken room (which is two steps down and resulted in a broken leg for one child thus far). The sunken room would be used for the second stall of the garage. We may also tear off and rebuild the second floor in the process if it efficiently addresses issues pertaining to insulation, ceiling height, etc. Our intention is to create an efficiently laid out home that will serve our family life well for years to come. This should provide a very brief overview of our plan, but we are happy to go into greater detail if that would be helpful in your consideration of this setback permit. Resultiof! impact on the neh!.bborhood A great portion of the homes on our block and broader neighborhood were originally laid out in a way that does not meet today's minimum setback requirements for side lot lines. Since we would not be changing the location of our new garage (beyond increasing its length) and since the setback distance would continue to be consistent with that of most of our neighbors, any negative impact on the neighborhood should be minimal. Additionally, our plans to place bedroom space above the garage, instead oftuming the house into a full two-story structure, should better fit the style of homes found on our block. The overall appearance of the site would be significantly improved through the coordinated plan as designed by the architect. The "curb appeal" of the home should improve considerably with the addition of gables over the entrance and garage among other things, as well as through the updating of the exterior surface materials of the home and garage. In general, we believe this project should have a positive impact on our neighborhood in that it would add value to our home, update the exterior surfaces of our home, and improve the landscape. These aspects should both be attractive visually and playa role in supporting property values in our neighborhood.