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[  04OCT16] [Front garage/parking gallery]
  
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Three planning tools to govern new construction currently are under consideration -- #1 on impervious cover, #2 on garage placement, and #3 on front porches. #1 and #3 enjoy wide support. CNA already nas voted its approval. However #2 is new, and is raising some concern.

Advocates of #2 (garage placement) point out that "snout-nosed" garages recently have begun appearing in our midst. Our older homes have their garages to the side or the rear. "Snouts" are imported from outer suburbia. They epitomize "car culture," and are rather incongruous with the older central-city "neighbor culture" typified by block watches, residents looking out for one another, and safe walkable streets. The tool is designed to stem the unwelcome tide, and would discourage builders from making Cherrywood willy-nilly more like Pflugerville.

While opponents of the tool might share this sentimen, they also fear the tool would cast too wide a net. Some owners of smaller lots might like to build a garage or carport closer to the front. The tool would disallow even this. In this sense it wouold violate property rights and diversity.

The 13 photos below illustrate some negative and positive facets of several modes of front parking Cherrywood. The comments are in consultation with architect Girard Kinney, AIA. Some comments touch as well on CNA's emerging design guidelines.

1.
Here is a relatively new "snout" garage with front entry, and appealing landscaping. But the garage dominates, and no windows face front. If tool #2 (garage placement) passes, no more of these would be permitted. And #1 (impervious cover) would forbid this much front drive pavement.

3500 block of Hollywood


2.
Ditto. It's next door to the one above.

2500 block of Hollywood


3.
Here a duplex (more?) with 4 garage spaces and as many as 8 paved spaces in front. There is no front entry, the garage dominates, and only tiny windows face front. If tool #2 (garage placement) passes, no more of these would be permitted. And #1 (impervious cover) would forbid this much front drive pavement.

3100 block Robinson


4.
Here is an ongoing project with no garage or carport. #1 (impervious cover) would forbid this much front drive pavement.

3300 block of Robinson


5.
Another view of the one above.

3300 block of Robinson

x

6.
Here a pleasant carport with nice detail. The home has "eyes on the street" front entry and front windows, even the (also nice) privacy fence behind the carport lowers security. It highlights the dilemma. If tool #2 (garage placement) passes, even a carport architecturally as nice as this would not be permitted.

3400 block of Robinson


7.
Here's a typical situation. The owners of this lushly landscaped, well-maintained home converted thir one-time garage to a room, leaving insufficient parking. While residences are required under existing law to have 2 off-street spaces -- and lots of Cherrywood homes don't -- in this case no new tool or design guideline would be violated.

3700 block of Robinson


8.
As an aside -- because no tool is involved, but unfortunately also typical -- a contractor originally built this carport without a building permit. Possibly most remodeling in Cherrywood is done this way. When the owners realized what had happened and sought a variance, the next-door neighbor objected on grounds the original structure was too close and blocked his sunlight. So the owners graciously moved the carport to leave the required setback. Public education (and popularizing voluntary design guidelines) can be very important in such cases. Lots of folks may not even know when a building permit is required. The formal process cannot stop ill-advised projects. Pictured here is the final, legal carport. Because is flush with the front facade of the house, it would be permitted under #2 (garage placement).

3500 block of Hollywood


9.
Here is a new duplex with front entry and windows, but no carport or garage. #1 (impervious cover) would forbid this much front drive pavement. So even builders of this sort of project would be required to put their off-street parking spaces toward the rear.

3200 block of Larry Lane


10.
This modernesque duplex has its admirers and detractors. But it distinctly diverse, and the architect laudibly placed it behind an existing tree. Not many "eyes on the street" features are apparent. 2 garage spaces and 2 driveway spaces make the required 4 off-street. But unless the front yard is less than 60% pervious, this would violate no tool.

3200 block of Hemlock


11.
This is an older home (duplex?)to which a front garage has been added. Such an addition would not be allowed under #1 (impervious cover) or #2 (garage placement). This one itself would be grandfathered, though it is also illegal under existing law is store a derelict vehicle (on the grass at left).

3700 block of Robinson


12.
Another view of the one above.

3700 block of Robinson


13.
This carport, although set back far enough from the street, is placed entirely in front of the house. As such it would not be permitted under #2 (garage placement).

3700 block of Werner



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