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