Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Before the city ruled that Dennis Varni's "trailer coach" was actually a garage and required him to move it, the structure perched on the edge of Almendra Creek.

Varni wheels building from edge of property to comply

By Clarence Cromwell

It's a good thing Dennis Varni's new garage has wheels: He had to roll it 23 feet away from his property line to make it legal.

Varni, a Monte Sereno resident who is also part-owner of Green Valley Disposal Co., drew the attention of building officials in August after he built an 11-by-30 foot garage inches from the edge of Almendra Creek on his Los Gatos-Saratoga Road property without purchasing a permit from the city.

When asked about the building, Varni told city officials they couldn't require him to buy a permit, because the structure is actually a trailer coach, which may be stored on residential property under city codes. He pointed to the seven pairs of 1.5-inch diameter rollers he mounted on the 312-square-foot garage so that it could be rolled across its concrete building pad.

But an inspection by building officials and perusal of the California Vehicle Code by the city attorney revealed that the thing on Varni's property--which has four wooden walls and a pitched roof--was not a trailer, but rather a permanent structure.

Monte Sereno Planner Brian Loventhal said Varni would have to move the building somewhere else on his property because it was too close to his property line. City codes require buildings to be at least six feet from most property lines, but because Varni's parcel is so large, he was required to put the garage at least 23 feet from the property line.

Varni applied Oct. 15 for a permit. He paid a $200 deposit that day on the $417 permit fee and received his permit seven days later.

He was required to pour a new concrete pad for the building. Varni can keep the wheels on his garage as long he bolts it permanently to the foundation, Loventhal said.

Varni plans to use the garage for storage of an antique camper trailer, a part of his classic vehicle collection, he said when the city first raised the issue.

This week, Varni objected to Los Gatos Weekly-Times inquiries about the garage.