Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes
July 11, 2002

Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairman Steiner.

MEMBERS PRESENT: 
Joe Bridgman
Ronald Griffith
Bill Steiner
Gene Levengood
Jim Zdanek

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: 
Mark Lewis, Chief Building Official
Alice Geletzke, Recording Secretary
8 members of the public

ITEM NO. 1 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Regular Meeting - June 6, 2002

Moved by Mr. Bridgman, supported by Mr. Griffith to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 6, 2002, as submitted. Ayes all.

ITEM NO. 2 - NEW BUSINESS

1.   Application No. 1307 - Parnell Johnson
      8898 Corinne
      Plymouth, MI 48170 

Location - Parnell Johnson
               8898 Corinne
               Plymouth, MI 48170
               Tax I.D. #78-059-02-0065-000

RE: Zoning Ordinance 83.63:
Minimum Lot Area - 7,200 sq. ft.
Minimum Width of Lot - 60 ft.
Minimum Side Yard Setback - 5 ft., Total of two = 16 ft.
Minimum Rear Yard Setback - 50 ft.

Part I. The Zoning Ordinance No. 83 of the Plymouth Charter Township, is hereby amended by amending Section 16.1 Schedule of Regulations to add a Footnote "z" to read as follows:

(z) The rear yard in an R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S and R-1, Single Family Resident District may be reduced after approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals finding that the following specific requirements have been made.

1. The single-family structure may not extend more than 10 feet into the required 50-foot rear yard.
2. The rear yard of the residence must back to the rear yard of the adjoining residence and not a side yard.
3. The width of the single family structure extending into the required 50-foot rear yard shall not exceed forty percent of the width of the portion of the single family structure, which must comply with the 50-foot setback.
4. The proposed penetration into the rear yard setback is the only practical location for the proposed addition.
5. The completed structure will be consistent and compatible with the other houses in the immediate area in overall size, construction, quality, and finish and aesthetic appearance. 
6. The proposed extension into the rear yard shall not have a substantial negative impact on expected vistas for adjoining properties.
7. The rear yard setback otherwise required is not less than 50-foot, due to a consent judgment or other exceptions.
8. The proposed structure shall comply with all other requirements of the ordinance.

The applicant is requesting one variance:

The existing residence where the proposed family room addition is to be located has a rear yard setback of: fifty-nine (59) feet, five (5) & five eighth (5 5/8) inch. The proposed family room of twenty nine (29) feet, eight (8) inch deep x thirty nine (39) feet, four (4) inch wide, would provide a rear yard setback of forty (40) feet, zero inches. The applicant is requesting a variance for the rear yard setback of ten (10) feet to allow for the proposed family room addition.

It was moved by Mr. Griffith, supported by Mr. Bridgman, to grant approval of Application 1307, providing a variance for the rear yard setback of ten (10) feet to allow for the proposed family room addition at 8898 Corinne, contingent upon the plans meeting all Building Department requirements. Ayes all.

2.   Application No. 1308 - Charles & Dawn Dawe 
      8810 Sheldon Rd
      Plymouth, MI 48170 

Location - Charles & Dawn Dawe
               8810 Sheldon Rd
               Plymouth, MI 48170
               Tax I.D. #78-059-03-0607-003

RE: Zoning Ordinance 83, Article XVI Schedule of Regulations, Zoning District R-1 One Family Residential District:

Minimum Lot Area - 7,200 sq. ft.
Minimum Width of Lot - 60 ft.
Minimum Side Yard Setback - 5 ft., Total of two = 16 ft.
Minimum Rear Yard Setback - 50 ft.

ARTICLE VI: R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S, R-1 ONE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
SEC. 6.1 PRINCIPAL PERMITTED USES:

No building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected except for one or more of the following specified uses, unless otherwise provided in this Ordinance:

1.   One family dwellings.
3.   Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.

SEC. 6.4 DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

The following requirements shall be provided within a One Family Residential District (R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S, R-1):

5.   Height, area, lot coverage and yard regulations as specified in
      Article 16 of this Ordinance.
6.   The following specific requirements shall apply within a One Family
       Residential District (R-1-E, R-1-H, R-1-S, R-1):

(e)   Rear Yard Use:

A rear yard may be used for any detached garage or any accessory building other than a garage, or for the storage of vehicles in accordance with the zoning district regulations.
(f)   Accessory Buildings in Residential Districts:

     (1) An accessory building, including carports attached to the principal building, shall be made structurally a part thereof, and shall comply in all respects with the requirements of this Ordinance applicable to the principal building. Breezeways, as an attachment between the garage or carport and the main building, shall be considered a part of the main building, but shall not be considered livable floor area. When garages are separated from the dwelling unit by an open breezeway, the garage wall and roof nearest that main building shall be not less than three-quarter (3/4) hour fire construction along the entire width of the breezeway.
     (2) A garage, carport or other accessory buildings, unless attached and made a part of the principal building as above provided, shall not be nearer than ten (10) feet to the principal building.
The proposed garage addition with covered breezeway or carport between the existing garage - to be a future family room making the proposed garage and breezeway a part of the main building - residence, per the ordinance sec. 6.4 g. 1 & 2. The main building - proposed garage addition area, shall have a rear yard setback of ten (10) feet seven (7) inches, per submitted site plan approved by the Building Department on March 15, 2002.

The applicant is requesting one variance:

The applicant is requesting a thirty-nine (39) feet, five (5) inch rear yard setback variance to allow the proposed garage and breezeway addition.

Charles and Dawn Dawes addressed the Board and answered questions. Mrs. Dawes said she had been given a verbal okay by someone from the township for their breezeway/carport provided they use the fire code drywall on the two outside walls. 

Mr. Lewis believed they spoke to a gentleman in the Building Department who didn't know the whole scope of the question and spoke in theory as to the possibility of building the breezeway/carport.

It was moved by Mr.Griffith, supported by Mr. Zdanek to grant approval of Application 1308, a thirty-nine (39) feet, five (5) inch rear yard setback variance to allow the proposed garage and breezeway addition at 8810 Sheldon Road, given the difficult configuration of the lot and the attractiveness of the structure. Ayes all.

Mr. Griffith suggested in-service training for department personnel to avoid misunderstandings with permit applicants in the future.


Moved by Mr. Bridgman, supported by Mr. Levengood, to adjourn at 5:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joe Bridgman


Joe Bridgman, Secretary
Zoning Board of Appeals

NOTE: Upon granting a zoning variance, a building permit is required.
If denied, the applicant may appeal to Circuit Court.

The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Supervisor's Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 42350 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3840, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-