ZBA approves wider garage openings at 1726 Park Ave W., with screening condition

The Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance April 16 allowing 54 linear feet of exterior wall openings for vehicular entry at 1726 Park Ave West, permitting six 9-foot garage doors where code allows 36 linear feet. The approval includes a condition that vegetative screening be installed to block the garage doors from view of the street.

Patrick, the city staff member, said the lot is in the R-3 district and the previous structure was demolished; the applicant is proposing a new home with attached garages and seeks an 18-foot increase over the permitted opening length. Staff said no public comments were filed.

The applicant (announced as Anam Argy) said the garage doors will be in a private courtyard and largely invisible from the street, and that the larger openings are needed for safety and maneuvering because the household will include multiple drivers and possibly multi‑generational occupants. “We also have bushes that are going to be covering it,” the applicant said, describing planned screening.

Board members discussed the hardship standard for new construction and pointed to neighborhood examples of large garages. Several members said approval should be conditioned on the vegetative screening shown in the applicant’s materials; the applicant agreed. A motion to approve the variance as drafted with a condition requiring vegetative screening passed on roll-call vote.

The approval order will reference the submitted plans and the condition that vegetative screening be installed to block the view of the garage doors from the street.