A. Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose of this section to allow, in certain cases and subject to specific design requirements, the conversion of garages and carports for living space in circumstances where the provisions of Section 17.34.020A cannot be met post-conversion. Such conversion is deemed acceptable if the following requirements are met.
B. Requirements:
1. The site is being used as a single-family, detached, residence with a minimum lot size of five thousand (5,000) square feet;
2. The area converted shall be used as part of the main dwelling and shall not be used as a separate dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit;
3. The area converted shall be subject to all applicable building code requirements;
4. The site shall be owner occupied and that such ownership shall have been in effect for a minimum of twelve (12) months prior to approval of a conversion under this section;
5. The garage door shall either be removed from the structure, or a wall shall be constructed behind the pre-existing garage door with the garage door remaining in place. The exterior elevation of the conversion shall be compatible in design with the existing dwelling;
6. In the case of garage door removal buffering, such as a planter, shall be provided between the carport or garage and the remaining parking area;
7. The remaining parking area shall have two parking spaces, each space having a minimum width of nine (9) feet and a minimum depth of eighteen (18) feet from the property line.
C. Approval Process. The city planner or his/her designee shall approve or deny garage conversion requests based upon the specified requirements. Interested individuals may appeal the decision of the city planner to the planning commission. The planning commission's review shall be limited to compliance with the specified requirements. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: Ord. 2003-23 § 2, 2003: prior code § 7490)