HomeMy WebLinkAbout1529 Burlingame Avenue - Application_ . ,.. •
August 31, 1982
BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION
Burlingame, CA
Dear Members of the Burlingame Planning Commission:
I am requesting a variance to construct a two-car
garage with a storage area. At the present time, there
is no existing garage. When I purchased the home situated
at 1529 Burlingame Avenue only a broken cement slab where
the garage had stood was visible. This was in January 19.81.
The problem, as I understand, is the size of the
structure that I wish to construct. The Code allows 500 sq.
ft. which��s�s.ufficient for two automobiles but severely
limits area designated for storage. Many homes in the area
have basements, as does mine, however, mine is virtually
non-existent. My basement measures 10�:�eet by 18 feet, but
almost all of this area is taken up by a large furnace and
water heater. What little is left is considered to be a
fire hazard by the Burlingame Fire Department because they
advise against storing anything.within three feet of an open
flame. Therefore, in my2,7g0 square foot home, I have less
than 40 square feet of storage space excluding the three
clothing closets in each bedroom.
Adding to this hardship is the fact that in the winter
the basement floods and the sump pump is continuly on render-
ing this storage space unuseable. I have lost several cases
of wine this year due to flooding in addition to the rustiAg
of most of my garden and hand tools.
We left our flat in San Francisco to gain living space
for our new born daughter, but it has been at the expense of
storage space. I also have to park my cars out in the street
leaving them unprotected from weather and possible vandalism.
Now that we are a family of three and w�th��plans for another
child, the complete lack of storage area is making the idea of
a clean, neat, spacious home impossible. I am only asking
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BURLINGAME PLANNING COMM:LSSION� -2-
permission to provide an area to store outgrown clothing,
hand tools, a wine collection, baby carriages, Christmas
ornaments, bicycles and the like, so that we may enjoy our
Burlingame home the way vae had meant to when we purchased it
nearly two years ago.
We have worked hard to bring it up cosmeticaly and all
our neighbors have been a source of great encouragement.
Since the home was such an eyesore for so many years, they
have been as excited as we have in its progress toward restora-
tion. Each neighbor that borders my property, side to side,
front and back, plus several in each direction has given me
letters of approval for the construction of the proposed garage.
The building department expresses concern over a possible
living unit. However, I have no intentions nor any desire to
build..� live-in unit in the garage. I am not proposing hot
water to the structure because I already have a laundry room
in the home. The proposed electrical plan shows only a 110
line for a garage door opener, an overhead light, and a couple
of outlets. I only ask that I be allowed to construct a reason-
able storage area for my belongings.
I hope the Commission finds my reasons valid and grants
permission to proceed,in improving my hom�.
Sincerely,
� � �
,
� � A
� sse Or' '
1529 Burlingame Avenue
Burlingame, CA