Title
Conduct a public hearing and consider the request to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance related to garage conversions and adopting applicable regulations including but not limited to amending: Article 4. "Site Development Standards" Section 4.3 "Parking and Loading" subsection K. "Carports and Garages" by amending paragraph 3 relating to garage conversions and adding paragraph 5 titled "Amnesty Program Permit"; and take appropriate action.
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BACKGROUND:
This case involves amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) related to garage conversions. Section 4.3 of the CZO mandates specific requirements for parking and loading. Specifically, in the One-Family Residence (R-1) through Two-Family Residence (D-2) zoning districts, parking spaces must be situated behind the front building line and enclosed within a garage structure designed for the secure storage of vehicles. The CZO was amended in 1997 to require a replacement garage enclosure on all properties where the original garage has been converted into living space. Over time, there has been a prevalent issue of residential garages undergoing unauthorized conversions without obtaining the necessary permits and inspections. The City is actively seeking a viable means to bring these infractions into compliance with the established regulations.
Through two comprehensive city-wide residential property surveys conducted in 2023, city staff documented approximately 1,393 instances of garage conversions visible from the street. Amongst this tally, 358 conversions were legally permitted. No permit records exist for the remaining 1,035 conversions.
In response to the City Council's directive, staff has prepared a proactive initiative to establish a proposed amnesty program to legalize all identified unauthorized garage conversions. Staff recommends that the proposed amnesty program be effective beginning July 16, 2024, pending approval of the proposed ordinance presented for City Council consid...
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