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Page 3 <br />April 28, 1975 <br />Presently Mr. Breault has two cars in the garage, one in his yard and another car <br />in another yard. One point he would like to make is that his neighbors have no <br />objections to the garage. He feels the Planning Commission wasn't concerned about <br />the neighbors but were more concerned about just turning down the request. There <br />are four more neighbors that want to build oversized garages. He stated they need <br />to store snowmobiles, lawn equipment, etc. The City approved a building permit <br />last fall for a 24 X 3( garage one half block from his home, and all the new homes <br />in the City with three car garages are over the code. Apartment buildings have <br />garages that are oversized. There are no size limits on swimming pools. There <br />is one in his neighborhood that is 24 X 40 with a wood fence completely around <br />the yard which obstructs the view more than his garage would. <br />Mr. Lawrence Young, 5426 Jackson, said he was a neighbor who signed the petition <br />and that he has no objection but wonders if this will open the door for oversized <br />garages throughout the city by setting a precedent. Mayor Johnson stated that <br />could be the result and that a line has to be drawn somewhere. <br />Mr. Dale Lentz, 5428 Erickson Road, said he had the same problem in the <br />past in Columbia Heights where he had a car that was sitting out and he was told <br />if it was not licensed it would have to be junked. He moved and brought his car <br />here. It was not garaged and eventually he had to junk it. Because of this he <br />feels, if a person wants to collect old cars because they are going to be worth <br />a lot of money in the future, they should be able to put up a garage to keep <br />these valuable cars in. <br />Mayor Johnson asked what vintage of car would be considered antique. Mr. Lentz <br />said any car past ten years old. Mr. Breault stated the State issues pioneer <br />licenses for cars of 1935 make and older. There is a bill in the legislature <br />would allow any car over 20 years old to be issued a collector's plate. He <br />has four boys and feels they should have a chance to have something to do besides <br />be on the streets. His sons go to shows and travel around the country with him, <br />and he doesn't see how Council can turn him down. <br />Councilman Hodges asked the distance the garage would be from the adjoining lot <br />lines. <br />Mr. Breault said he fronts on Adams Street and his driveway is on Bronson Drive. <br />From the end of his proposed garage to the lot line in the rear would be 40 feet. <br />He stated that last year when the other variance was allowed it was stated that <br />if the garage did not take up more than one quarter of your back yard it would be <br />okayed. It seems to Mr. Breault that if a man can have a swimming pool taking up <br />that much of the yard, then this request is not unreasonable. <br />Mr. Al Hillsdale, 7840 Spring Lake Road, asked what we had an ordinance for <br />if it wasn't going to be enforced. <br />Mr. Breault stated they have already gone over this ordinance in the City, and people <br />are starting to think of the future. We used to have single garages, now we need <br />double. <br />Mr. Hillsdale said he understandsthis part of it, but where do we draw the line. <br />This is what Council is facing tonight. <br />Councilman Hodges feels it is better to have more garage space considering the amount <br />of equipment people have to store. <br />