07-10-08 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 10, 2008 The City Planner reported that this application raises a couple of issues. The first is that the total square footage exceeds the 1,500 square foot maximum. Therefore, the garage area has to be decreased to 1,500 square feet or less. Anything above 1,500 square feet would require a Variance, and the Planner indicated that his office would not recommend in favor of a Variance. The second issue is the design of the larger garage. The Planner noted with a two-story garage, both floors would count as storage space, which brings the total garage space significantly over the 1,500 square foot maximum. The applicant has indicated that when the new house is constructed, the second floor of the garage would be living space. The Planner indicated that if atwo-storage garage structure is approved, it would be his recommendation that a Certificate of Occupancy not be approved for the upper level, and the property owner be prohibited from using that space until the new house is attached and the upper floor is utilized as living space. The Planner noted that another issue is that both garages are proposed in front of the house. The Planner indicated that the layout is a reasonable design given the setbacks that would come into play for a lake lot as well as the proximity of the house to the lake. Knudsen pointed out that the property owner may never build a new house. The Planner agreed, and noted that the use of the second floor of the garage will be difficult to monitor. Helmeke asked if rafter space counted in the square footage calculation for a garage. The Planner replied that rafter storage did not count. Knudsen stated that the Commission's options are to deny the CUP given the proposal for atwo-story garage structure that greatly exceeds the 1,500 square foot maximum, approve it with conditions that the second story not be used until attached as living space to a new house as well as reducing total garage space to 1,500 square feet or less, or table action until the applicant is present to answer questions. The Planner noted that another option would be to approve the two garages but not allow a second floor on the one garage structure. The Planner pointed out that the applicant submitted a couple of potential garage designs, one of which is a single- story garage. Knudsen suggested that the applicant could refine his proposal and come back to the Planning Commission with a final design. The Planner agreed. He also suggested that the Commission could pass the matter on to the Council with a recommendation. -2-