Zoning Board of Appeals Packet - 2/27/2014
CITY OF MUSKEGO
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA
February 27, 2014
6:00 PM
Muskego City Hall, Muskego Room, W182 S8200
Racine Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF CLOSED SESSION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Appeals of the City of Muskego may convene, upon
passage of the proper motion, into closed session pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(a) of the State
Statutes for the purpose of deliberating concerning cases which were the subject of a quasi-
judicial hearing; said cases being the appeals described below. The Board of Appeals will
then reconvene into open session.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
1. APPEAL #02-2014
Petitioner: Daniel J. Hewitt
Property: S66 W18543 Jewel Crest Drive / Tax Key No. 2174.069
REQUESTING: Under the direction of Chapter 17 Zoning Ordinance: Section 3.02
Zoning Board of Appeals, Petitioner seeks the following variance:
Chapter 17 - Zoning Ordinance: Section 5.02 - Building Location
(1) Location Restricted: No building shall be hereafter erected,
structurally altered or relocated on a lot except in conformity with
the following locational regulations as hereinafter specified for the
district in which it is located.
A setback of 25-feet is required from the front lot line on the above mentioned
lot. The petitioner seeks a setback of 9.25-feet from the front lot line for the
addition of an attached garage, and is therefore requesting a 15.75-foot variance
from the required front setback.
CLOSED SESSION
OPEN SESSION
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY 23, 2014.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
ADJOURN
NOTICE
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MEMBERS OF AND POSSIBLY A QUORUM OF MEMBERS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES OF
THE MUNICIPALITY MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE ABOVE-STATED MEETING TO GATHER INFORMATION; NO ACTION
WILL BE TAKEN BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT THE ABOVE-STATED MEETING OTHER THAN THE GOVERNMENTAL
BODY SPECIFICALLY REFERRED TO ABOVE IN THIS NOTICE.
ALSO, UPON REASONABLE NOTICE, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF DISABLED
INDIVIDUALS THROUGH APPROPRIATE AIDS AND SERVICES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST THIS
SERVICE, CONTACT MUSKEGO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, (262) 679-4100.
Appeal # 02-2014
ZBA 2-27-2014
Page 1 of 2
City of Muskego
City Representative Brief
Zoning Board of Appeals Supplement 02-2014
For the meeting of: February 27, 2014
REQUESTING:
1. Under the direction of Chapter 17 - Zoning Ordinance: Section 5.02 - Building Location
(1) Location Restricted: No building shall be hereafter erected, structurally altered or
relocated on a lot except in conformity with the following locational regulations as
hereinafter specified for the district in which it is located.
APPELLANT: Daniel J. Hewitt
LOCATION: S66 W 18543 Jewel Crest Drive / Tax Key No. 2174.069
CITY’S POSITION PRESENTED BY: Adam Trzebiatowski AICP, City Representative
BACKGROUND
The petitioner is proposing to construct a two-car attached garage to the front of their existing home.
There currently is not a garage on this property. It appears that there was a small attached garage on this
home at one time, but that was converted to living space. The proposed garage area will encompass a
portion of the existing home and the new garage size 22’ x 22’.
The lot currently contains a home and no accessory structures. The lot also currently contains large
amounts of concrete surfaces (driveway, patios, etc.). The parcel is zoned RL-3, Lakeshore Residence
District. The property is located on Jewel Crest Drive on Little Muskego Lakes western shore.
The petitioner is seeking the following variance:
An exception to the required setback from the front lot line for allowance of an attached garage
addition.
A setback of 25-feet is required from the front lot line on the above mentioned lot. The petitioner
seeks a setback of 9.25-feet from the front lot line for the addition of an attached garage, and is
therefore requesting a 15.75-foot variance from the required front setback.
DISCUSSION
Based upon the submitted information, staff believes there is a valid hardship in this petition. The existing
property does not have any type of garage and the garage that is being proposed is of a typical size (not
excessive in size). Homes are typically afforded a garage of some type. Additionally, the petitioner has
worked to try to place the garage on the northwest front area of the lot, but due to the proximity to the well
and due to some mature trees near the house in this area, this location does not work and it still may have
required a variance.
The petitioner has stated a few reasons for their variance request in their submittal. The reasons include
the hardship of not having any indoor location for vehicle storage, having to work around existing well, and
trying to maintain the mature trees near the northwest corner of the house. The owners have also
Appeal # 02-2014
ZBA 2-27-2014
Page 2 of 2
submitted letters from their two adjoining neighbors stating that they do not have any problems with the
proposed variance request.
One other current issue with this lot is that it currently does not meet the required open space amount.
This lot is required to keep at least 6,750 SF as open space. Without the proposed garage addition, the
site only has 5,466 SF remaining as open space. This is 1,284 SF over the maximum allowed coverage.
To address this, the petitioner is proposing to remove the existing back yard concrete patios and
walkways, along with the existing front walkway. These surfaces are going to be replaced with pavers.
Also, the front parking area is going to be reduced in size. With these removals/replacements, the site will
have 6,763 SF of open space, which is within the allowed limit. As part of the removal and replacement of
the existing surfaces, all new surfaces will need to be located at least 3 feet away from the side lot lines.
NOTE: Please remember that the City must base their recommendation upon a valid hardship as defined
by State Law and Zoning Case Law. Zoning Case Law states that a hardship must be unique to the
property, it cannot be self-created, and must be based upon conditions unique to the property rather than
conditions personal to the property owner(s). Case Law also states that a hardship should be something
that would unreasonably prevent the owner from using their property for the permitted purpose or would
render conformity with such restrictions unnecessarily burdensome. The Zoning Board of Appeals needs
to find a valid hardship in order to be able to approve a variance request.
BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, THE CITY RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS:
Approval of Appeal 02-2014 as proposed, allowing an attached garage with a 9.25-foot setback, a
15.75-foot variance from the front lot/right-of-way line; citing that all other practical options have
been explored and this option seems to be the most practical for this lot due to the large tree s and
well on the northwestern front portion of the lot. The proposed garage is typical in si ze and most
homes are typically afforded a garage of some type.
MUSKE G Othe City of
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Ag en da I tem(s )
Pr op ertie s
Zonin g D istrict s
Righ t-of -Way
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Sup plemen tal MapAPPEAL #0 2-2 014
Da niel H ew itt S6 6 W 185 43 Jew el C rest Dr ive
J A N E S V I L L E
L O O M I S R D
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Pre p are d by Ci ty o f M u ske g o P la n ni ng D e pa rtm en t Da te : 2 /2 2/2 0 14
Unapproved
CITY OF MUSKEGO
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES
January 23, 2014
6:00 PM
Muskego City Hall, Muskego Room, W182 S8200
Racine Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Blumenfiled called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Dr. Barbara Blumenfield (Chairman), Mr. Henry Schneiker (Vice Chairman), Mr.
Blaise DiPronio, Dr. Russell Kashian, Mr. Aaron Roberston, Mr. Richard Ristow, and Planner
Trzebiatowski. Absent: Mr. Butch LeDoux.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
The meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting laws.
NOTICE OF CLOSED SESSION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Appeals of the City of Muskego may convene, upon
passage of the proper motion, into closed session pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(a) of the State
Statutes for the purpose of deliberating concerning cases which were the subject of a quasi-
judicial hearing; said cases being the appeals described below. The Board of Appeals will
then reconvene into open session.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
APPEAL #01-2014
Petitioner: Phoenix of Milwaukee I (Kris Hanrahan)
Property: W124 S8220 North Cape Road / Tax Key No. 2209.929
REQUESTING: Under the direction of Chapter 17 Zoning Ordinance: Section 3.02 Zoning
Board of Appeals, Petitioner seeks the following variance:
Chapter 17 - Zoning Ordinance: Section 5.02 - Building Location
(1) Location Restricted: No building shall be hereafter erected, structurally
altered or relocated on a lot except in conformity with the following
locational regulations as hereinafter specified for the district in which it is
located.
A setback of 40-feet is required from the front lot line (ultimate right-of-way) on the
above mentioned lot. The petitioner seeks a setback of 29.21-feet from the front
(western) ultimate right-of-way line for the placement of a deck/porch, and is therefore
requesting a 10.79-foot variance from the required front setback.
Vice Chairman Schnieker swore in Kris Hanrahan (petitioner) and Adam Trzebiatowski (staff).
Planner Trzebiatowski gave background information and the city's statement based on the
Zoning Code. Staff is recommending denial of appeal 01-2014 citing that a deck/porch can be
built 3 feet deep, which meets the Building code requirements. The hardships stated are self-
imposed/self-created. Since there is a need for ingress/egress to the home through the front
door, staff is receptive to the least variance possible for access to this home. That option would
be the removal or alteration of the existing deck/porch so that the only deck/porch remaining
be a 3 foot deep landing, the width of the door, with the necessary stairs to grade. This meets
the Zoning Case Law requirements of the least variance possible, while still providing proper
access to the front door that meets the Building code requirements.
The petitioner, Kris Hanrahan S90 W18920 Acorn Drive, explained between him and his
partner the deck permit was missed because they were doing other properties with deck
permits also. The ultimate right of way was not shown on the survey by the surveyor. All the
other work that was done at the property was permitted and the footings were inspected by the
city's inspectors. Mr. Hanrahan stated the hardship is someone is already living in the house
and needs a landing coming out the front door and also the location of the ultimate right of
way.
Dr. Blumenfield stated the hardship for approving the variance is the homeowner does need
ingress/egress for access to the outside.
Aaron Robertson made a motion to approve APPEAL #01-2014 with the modification
of the deck to a 6'x8' landing with necessary stairs and submit and receive permits
and to have work completed by May 1, 2014. Richard Ristow seconded.
Motion Passed 5 in favor.
CLOSED SESSION
OPEN SESSION
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Dr. Barbara Blumenfield made a motion to APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013. Blaise Di Pronio seconded.
Motion Passed 6 in favor.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
ADJOURN
Aaron Robertson made a motion to ADJOURN at 6:58 PM. Henry Schneiker
seconded.
Motion Passed 6 in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Kellie McMullen,
Recording Secretary