Building a Home Garages/Workshops Design Dilemma

Help with location for detached garage

8 years ago

Wise Houzzers, I would like some opinions / advice. We live on approx. ½ acre lot which is sort of a wedge shape, wider in the front and gets narrower in the back. Due to zoning / being in a historic district, garages must be detached and behind the house. Our current “garage” is in desperate need of repair/replacement. We are unhappy with the current location which essentially cuts our back yard in half and blocks our view from our back porch. We are proposing moving the garage to the left side of our property so it would be a straight drive in from our driveway.

Our current garage is approx. 20 x 18. We are thinking the new garage would be 20 x 30. We live on a busy main road, so we need to be able to turn around and head out face first, backing out is not a viable option for every day. We do not park in our current garage. One car is parked between it and our porch and one is parked in front of it. We are able to back both cars up to turn around and head out face first currently.

Due to the size and shape of our lot, any place we build a new garage will require a variance, so for arguments sake the setbacks / lot coverage does not matter.

My questions:

Does the proposed location make sense? As an aside, to the left of our property is a “community garden” which I would be happy to have screening from. The rear of our property is wooded and we would like to see as much of that as possible.

How much driveway do you think is needed to be able to back out of the garage, turn, and be head first down the driveway?

Is 20 x 30 big enough to reasonably fit 2 (possibly 3 cars) plus lawn mower, snow blower, etc. I say possibly 3 cars as we have a 2 seat roadster which doesn’t get daily use we planned to put horizontally across the back (on car wheel dollys). Is this a crazy thought?

Any other comments / suggestions?

Thank You!

Rough outline of property

Featured Answer

PRO

Virgil Carter Fine Art

8 years ago

A "standard" 2-car garage, with room for mower, boxes, tools, suitcases, et al, is typically 24' X 24'. Your location is generally fine. You will need a backup space for turning around and exiting, along the lines and dimensions of this:

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Comments (10)

Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
so, the two garage doors will be facing towards the street? its confusing as the garage is deeper ... as though the bays would face sideways.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
8 years ago
Getting a local architect would be helpful for you. They will be able to gather more information that effects the design than you will be able to convey here.

Do not tear down the existing garage until you have official approval in writing in your possession.
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Jackie E
Original Author
8 years ago
The doors would be on the 20' face of the garage, you would drive straight up the driveway into the garage. Currently the garage is up the driveway and to the right. Hope that is clear.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
2. (will you be required to take down the old garage. i ask because odds are you'll never be able to build it again.)

3. in any case, assuming the garage doors face the street. i'd turn the current paving next to your current garage, and a bit more (wider), for backing around. you might do this in pavers rather than asphalt. more expensive but it makes it look like patio. you'll have more wiggle room. and of course it will help with how much permeable square footage you have.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
i was typing same time as mark. ok, thanks thats what it seemed you would have meant just wanted to be sure.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
one downside i see; currently your garage is blocking your neighbors garage. how great does that look in winter, when the leaves are off? something to consider.

anyway, on the top view, your plan seems like an obvious choice.
Jackie E
Original Author
8 years ago
We will need a variance to both take down the existing garage and build the new one. We would not touch the old one until permission is granted, but thanks for the warning some people might not realize that.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
i live in a historic district, tiny lots, no garage. we have a 2 3/4 car tandem driveway. i chose to use up the district commission's good will on building another room on the first floor rather than a garage. turns out you really don't need a garage, even in boston.... its so much easier to clear snow when your driveway is realllly short. best of luck!
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
8 years ago
I said not to tear down the existing because it may become part of the solution to use all or part of it. When dealing with certain jurisdictions, life is uncertain I have learned. Talk to your local Zoning Administrator (or equivalent) about your situation and get their take on what they think you can and can't do.