(A) Purpose: These standards:
1. Together with the main entrance standards, ensure that there is a physical and visual connection between the living area of the residence and the street.
2. Ensure that the location and amount of the living area of the residence, as seen from the street, is more prominent than the garage.
3. Prevent garages from obscuring the main entrance from the street and ensure that the main entrance for pedestrians, rather than automobiles, is the prominent entrance.
4. Provide for a more pleasant pedestrian environment by preventing garages and vehicle areas from dominating the views of the neighborhood from the sidewalk.
5. Enhance public safety by preventing garages from blocking views of the street from inside the residence.
(B) Applicability:
1. Generally: Unless exempted by the provisions of this subsection, these standards apply to garages for single-family and two-family dwellings, and townhouse units, in the R4 through R16 zones.
2. Exemptions:
(a) Garages that are accessory to development on flag lots, or development on lots which slope up or down from the street with an average slope of twenty percent (20%) or more are exempt from the standards of this subsection.
(b) Detached garages which are located completely to the rear of the dwelling unit, accessible by a driveway from the street or rear alley.
(c) Lots with areas equal to, or greater than, ten thousand (10,000) square feet and with a street frontage of at least seventy five feet (75').
(d) Garages for developments which have secured a building permit prior to March 16, 2006, are exempt from these provisions.
(C) Standards: The commission will consider exceptions to these standards through design review.
1. Length: The length of the garage wall facing the street may be up to fifty percent (50%) of the length of the street facing building facade. See figure 3.8.20(A) of this section. For all other lots and structures, the standards apply to the street facing facade of each unit.
(a) Exception: Where the street facing facade of the building is less than twenty four feet (24') long, the garage wall facing the street may be up to twelve feet (12') long if there is one of the following. See figure 3.8.20(B) of this section.
(1) Interior Living Area Above The Garage: The living area must be set back no more than four feet (4') from the street facing garage wall.
(2) Covered Balcony Above The Garage: A covered balcony above the garage that is at least the same length as the street facing garage wall, at least six feet (6') deep, and accessible from the interior living area of the dwelling unit.
2. Proximity To Street Relative To Dwelling: A garage wall that faces a street may be no closer to the street lot line than the longest street facing wall of the dwelling unit. See figure 3.8.20(C) of this section. Where a lot has more than one street lot line, and there is an existing dwelling unit on the lot, this standard must be met only on the street facing facade on which the main entrance is located.
(a) Exception: A street facing garage wall may be up to six feet (6') in front of the longest street facing wall of the dwelling unit, if:
(1) The street facing garage wall is forty percent (40%) or less of the length of the building facade.
(2) There is a porch at the main entrance. The garage wall may not be closer to the street lot line than the front of the porch. See figure 3.8.20(D) of this section. The porch may not be more than twelve feet (12') above the floor of the porch.
(Ord. 939, 1-14-2016)