Planning commission directs staff to prepare CUP for oversized accessory structure at 601 N. 25th St.

The Norfolk Planning Commission on June 2 voted unanimously to have city staff prepare a conditional-use permit for an oversized accessory structure at 601 North 25th Street, a request filed on behalf of property owners Kyle and Caitlyn Brow.

At a public hearing the applicant described attaching an existing detached garage to the south-southeast to create a 48-by-55-foot addition with an 18-foot ceiling. "There'll be one large garage for any, you know, needs for, you know, like an RV or boat or whatnot and then another small garage door for vehicles or storage or whatnot," the applicant said. Staff calculated that the proposed addition (48 x 55 = 2,640 sq ft) plus an existing 1,200 sq ft structure would total roughly 3,840 square feet and suggested the commission set an explicit cap on total accessory building area.

Planning staff recommended standard conditions: maintain required setbacks, prohibit new livable (habitable) area within the accessory structure, and disallow commercial operations from the building. "As long as they maintain the standard setbacks, it looks like they have plenty of space," Val, a city planner, said during review. Commissioners discussed roof peak and height limits and confirmed the proposal would remain under the residential maximum height allowed.

The commission directed staff to prepare a conditional-use permit with appropriate conditions and return the item for discussion and action at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

The next step is for city staff to draft the CUP and recommended conditions, including the square-footage cap and restrictions on habitable and commercial use, for commission consideration at a future meeting.