Shores Planning Commission Helps Seal House Deal

The Planning Commission voted Tuesday to allow soon-to-be Lakeshore Road homeowners to build a three car garage on their new property provided that a public land use hearing next month also finds in their favor. 

The decision, which was not expected to be made until next month, but the buyers, Richard and Jennifer Perry, asked the commission to vote Tuesday with a contingency clause in the event the land use hearing encounters resistance. However, they don't expect any resistance because three neighbors provided their written approval of the project. 

Richard Perry is a sports car collector and is in need of the additional garage space. The house at 910 Lakeshore Road already has a three-car detached garage, above which there is a carriage house, developer Edward Russell told the commission. 

The sale of the five-bedroom, four and a half bath house most recently listed for $1.75 million hinged on whether the commission approved the new garage and after originally leaving the meeting, Russell, the Perrys and others returned to request the vote Tuesday. The Perrys wanted to close on the house sooner than later. 

Although the commission generally wouldn't vote on such a request until after the public hearing, they saw need to help the residents move along the sale of the 5,800 square foot house. They unanimously approved the new construction contingent upon the results of the public hearing on land use. 

Should the public hearing on land use fail, the couple will be required to do one of the following: remodel the existing three-car garage into another use or to tear it down in order to still build the new three-car garage. 

After the Perrys signed paperwork in the hallway of the Shores municipal building Tuesday, Richard Perry said they will close in mid-March and hopes to break ground on the new three car garage in the late spring.

In other business, the planning commission also decided to not get involved with an on-going dispute between two other neighbors on Lakeshore Road regarding overgrown bushes and trees. One resident came to the planning commission requesting help after what he described as years and years worth of disagreement. He told the commission the overgrown bushes of his neighbor impact his view of the lake. 

Late last year, the commission approved a new ordinance, which was also passed by city council, that allows for residents to plant greenery of any height they desire. The commission decided it wants to stick with its original plan and not revisit the issue. Doing so, would open the door for every resident to expect the commission to address their individual complaint.