A Walworth homeowner received approval Monday night to build a garage addition closer to a side property line than town zoning rules normally allow.
The Walworth Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved an area variance for Michael Matteson’s property at 3503 West Walworth Road. The property is located in a residential zoning district.
Matteson plans to add about 12 feet to an existing garage, creating space for storage and allowing him to use more of the current structure for woodworking. He told the board the addition would cover an existing concrete pad and help him keep a vehicle inside another section of the garage.
Town code requires the structure to remain at least 15 feet from the side property line. The addition is expected to come within approximately 11.2 feet of the line, requiring about 3.8 feet of relief.
Board members calculated the request as a roughly 24.7% variance from the required setback.
The board questioned whether Matteson could place the addition on the opposite side of the garage. Matteson said doing so would interfere with vehicle access because a stone walkway leaves only about 10 feet of clearance in that area.
Members determined that another configuration may technically be possible but would not be practical because the concrete pad is already in place and the opposite side presents access limitations.
The board also found that the addition would not negatively affect the neighborhood’s physical or environmental conditions and would not create an undesirable change in neighborhood character or harm nearby properties.
Matteson told the board there may be an easement near the side or rear of the property. Board members stressed that their decision only grants relief from the zoning setback and does not authorize construction within an easement.
The board warned that Matteson would be responsible for confirming the easement’s location and would assume the risk if he constructed within it. Members said building in an easement would be highly discouraged.
As required under the variance review process, the board found that the need for relief was self-created. That factor did not prevent approval when weighed against the project’s limited neighborhood impact and the lack of a feasible alternative.
The variance was approved without additional conditions and was limited to the specific area and minimum relief needed for the proposed addition.
Matteson said he had started the building permit process but still needed to complete payment. The town will issue a letter confirming the variance approval.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.