A decision by the development appeals board to allow for an extension to a garage at 955 Oasis St. is going to be challenged by the City of Moose Jaw.

The appeals board allowed an application that was denied for an extension to an existing detached garage on the property.

The application proposed building a 36 by 38 foot addition to make the total floor area of the garage 2,152 square feet, 10 square feet larger than the house on the property.

The garage would also be the tallest building on the property at 18.6 feet. The applicant has indicated that they are using the garage to store vintage cars.

"There are residential dwellings right next to where that is. They're mobile homes that would be right adjacent to it," said director of planning and development services Michelle Sanson.

"There are trees that do surround it, but he did say he was going to have to remove those trees to put in the extension."

City administration believes the appeals board erred as the zoning bylaw allows for a combined floor area of 900 square feet for accessory buildings in residential areas as larger accessory buildings may look out of place in residential areas and are sometimes better suited for industrial or commercial areas.

Sanson said, if the application is approved it, will be the largest accessory building in a residential area in Moose Jaw.

"The previous one granted was 1,840 square feet and that was for an R5 property on an acreage on Caribou West and then there was another one that was granted for 2,052 square feet at 901 Normandy and that was multiple buildings that add up to this. So this would be a single structure on that."

City administration's concern is the addition would set a precedent for future appeals.

Motion to appeal the decision passed 4-3 with Councilors Brian Swanson, Dawn Luhning and Mayor Fraser Tolmie opposed.

The appeal will be taken to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board for a decision.