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Variance Board Meeting <br />Minutes – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 <br />2 <br />Page <br />At the request of Chair Murphy, Mr. Lloyd confirmed that to-date staff had <br />47 <br />received no public comment. <br />48 <br />At the request of Member Gitzen, Mr. Lloyd clarified that the attached draft <br />49 <br />resolution (Attachment D) addressed both variance requests on lines 60 and 65 <br />50 <br />respectively. As noted by Member Gitzen, Mr. Lloyd duly noted the need to <br />51 <br />change the resolution title accordingly. <br />52 <br />Applicant Greg Sampson, 3005 Woodbridge Street <br />53 <br />Mr. Sampson provided additional photographic information and rationale for his <br />54 <br />request for an 8’ extension versus a 5’ extension to Woodbridge. Mr. Sampson <br />55 <br />noted the existing garage would be razed, but the storage shed in question would <br />56 <br />stay, and the existing driveway removed. <br />57 <br />Member Daire requested additional information from and clarified by Mr. <br />58 <br />Sampson, including confirmation of the history and age of the existing garage of <br />59 <br />at least sixty years; condition of the existing structure that had many structural and <br />60 <br />water intrusion issues, and electrical service not up-to-code; proximity of the <br />61 <br />existing garage with the nearby storage shed; and intended size of the proposed <br />62 <br />new garage on the south side of the house approximately the same as the <br />63 <br />existing structure (26’ wide x 32’ deep). Member Daire further questioned Mr. <br />64 <br />Sampson on his intended use of the garage beyond vehicle storage (e.g. work <br />65 <br />space). <br />66 <br />Mr. Sampson stated he had considered many configurations for placement of a <br />67 <br />new garage and this made the most sense with access off Woodbridge and not <br />68 <br />impacting an existing huge Oak Tree in his yard that he didn’t want to lose. <br />69 <br />At the request of Member Daire, Mr. Lloyd clarified that city code allowed the 5’ <br />70 <br />setback, but not the 8’ setback. <br />71 <br />Mr. Sampson referenced his photos and sketch plan for proposed placement; and <br />72 <br />impacts to the existing sidewalk location around the house, landscaping and front <br />73 <br />steps into the house, and the house roofline that would be impacted by any other <br />74 <br />configuration or placement if not allowed the 8’ variance setback request. Mr. <br />75 <br />Sampson also addressed the impacts for a proposed 36’ wide service door that <br />76 <br />would allow only 1’ on each side of the service door; and even if he installed a <br />77 <br />smaller door, it would still leave little room on either side. <br />78 <br />At the request of Chair Murphy, Mr. Sampson and Mr. Lloyd confirmed that there <br />79 <br />was a structural advantage to align the garage wall with the back of the home <br />80 <br />rather than extending the proposed garage by sliding it back. Mr. Sampson <br />81 <br />displayed a photo looking north at the side of the home, and recommendations of <br />82 <br />his contractor to follow the line of the roof 24’ to avoid a total roof reconstruction <br />83 <br />with trusses, creating an even more extensive cost. Mr. Sampson provided other <br />84 <br />photographs comparing a 5’ and 8’ setback for the Variance Board’s <br />85 <br />consideration, and allowing him to avoid removing some landscaping in that area <br />86 <br />around the house and the sidewalk as previously noted. If he was required to <br />87 <br />demolish the existing front steps, re-pour the sidewalk right next to the home that <br />88 <br />leads to the steps and front door, Mr. Sampson advised his contractor estimated <br />89 <br />an additional $3,500. <br />90 <br />Member Gitzen observed that it looked from the picture that the sidewalk could be <br />91 <br />swung out with a landing in front of the garage door and without removing the <br />92 <br />entire sidewalk around the house. <br />93 <br />Mr. Sampson agreed it may be possible, but noted this scenario was how it had <br />94 <br />been bid to him, and he hadn’t looked at the situation from that point of view. Mr. <br />95 <br />Sampson stated to him this was a one-shot deal, and would only mean a 67’ <br />96 <br />versus 70’ setback from Woodbridge Street with a 5’ extension. Mr. Sampson <br />97 <br />recognized staff’s concerns with city code design standards to address pedestrian <br />98 <br /> <br />