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Home My WebLink AboutSupporting Documentation - 05/19/2025 Mike Hutsell | Architect, NCARB, CPHT Phone: 720-227-8894 | Email: mike@mhdesignco.com Request for Reasonable Accommodation Per Fort Collins Land Use Code (LUC) Section 6.15 Homeowner Information:  Name: Cindy Bair  Address: 609 S. Meldrum, Fort Collins, CO  Telephone: 817-301-4949 Email: cindykbair@gmail.com  Property Information: Address: 609 S. Meldrum, Fort Collins, CO  Current Use: Single-family residence occupied by the homeowner, Cindy and her household. The property is located in the Old Town C (OT-C) zoning district. Disability Status Conﬁrmation: Cindy qualiﬁes as a person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Due to mobility limitations, modiﬁcations to the property are necessary to ensure accessibility and allow her to safely and fully enjoy her home. Requested Accommodation: The applicant requests a reasonable accommodation under LUC Section 6.15 for: 1.An increase in the maximum allowable height for a detached accessory structure from the zoning limit of 24'-0" to 25'-8", an overage of 1'-8". •Per Section 2.1.6 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, the OT-C zoning district limits the height of detached accessory structures to 24 feet or the height of the primary structure, whichever is less. •The proposed ADU/garage will remain under the height of the future remodeled primary residence, which is anticipated to be 25'-11". 2.An increase in garage ﬂoor area from the allowed 600 square feet to 640 square feet (an overage of 40 square feet) in connection with a new detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Justiﬁcation for Reasonable Accommodation: Phase 1: Accessible ADU Construction  The ADU is being built as the ﬁrst phase of a long-term plan to make the property fully accessible. The current home does not meet Cindy’s mobility needs. The ADU will provide temporary, accessible housing for Cindy during the remodel of the primary residence. Mobility Needs – Rear-Loading Accessible Van Accommodation  Cindy uses a wheelchair-accessible Ford Transit 250 van (extended length, high roof), Page of 1 2 Mike Hutsell | Architect, NCARB, CPHT Phone: 720-227-8894 | Email: mike@mhdesignco.com approximately 22 feet long and over 9 feet tall, with a rear-entry lift that extends more than 6 feet. To accommodate this vehicle and provide adequate space for safe loading and unloading, the garage portion of the ADU requires slightly more height and area than zoning typically allows. The requested 25'-8" total height enables necessary interior clearance for the garage and living space above, while remaining lower than the future remodeled primary home. The additional 40 square feet of garage area allows for maneuvering room and safe access around the van. Future Use for Live-In Caregiver  After Cindy moves into the remodeled home, the ADU will serve as housing for a live-in caregiver, providing long-term support and enhancing Cindy’s ability to live independently on the property. Design Compatibility  The ADU has been thoughtfully designed to ﬁt the scale of the lot and neighborhood, and will be clearly secondary to the primary residence in both height and overall massing. The requested height of 25'-8" remains under the 25'-11"height of the planned primary residence, consistent with the intent of Section 2.1.6. While modest increases in height and garage area are requested, the surrounding context supports these adjustments: •Accessory buildings on the adjacent properties to the north and south are larger in both scale and bulk than the proposed ADU. •The additional size and height will not be visually prominent or disruptive, and are in keeping with the scale and rhythm of existing structures along the block. Conclusion  This request is consistent with the intent of LUC Section 6.15, which allows reasonable ﬂexibility in zoning standards to ensure individuals with disabilities can access and enjoy housing. The adjustments requested are minimal, necessary, and in full alignment with fair housing protections. We respectfully request approval of this reasonable accommodation to support Cindy’s ability to reside safely and independently on her property during and after the planned renovations. Page of 2 2