Thanks so much for taking the time to create this image! It's quite helpful to see what it would look like. I agree that a mansard roof can be an issue. We were thinking of making the roof the same as that of the solarium (as seen to the left of the house). It's like a mini version of a mansard. Also although the idea of heating the driveway is a practical one and less expensive, it doesn't address the aesthetic issue of the steep driveway. We're hoping to come up with a plan that will incorporate a new garage and some surrounding landscape for both safety and aesthetic reasons.

Let's slow down a bit. Your interest in this lot is 100% due to it being just *****$40,000***** cheaper than otherwise similar lots that don't have the defects in access. Yet most of the solutions and mitigations proposed (leaving aside the obvious jokes like a tunnel) would certainly cost at least that amount, or more. And while the $40k discount is fixed and certain (you'll never see any other upside), the actual as-built cost and ongoing cost of ownership of that lot - including all the grading, heating, maintenance, need to purchase only 4WD vehicles, slip and fall, and reduced resale value - are uncertain, and could increase without any limit. Imagine you do the engineering and grading to create a useable driveway and roadside parking pads......then in 5 years comes a 100 year storm, the driveway washes out, you're stuck parking a mile away, and your downslope neighbors are threatening lawsuits over the liquid earth pouring off your driveway, that is threatening their foundations. Etc.

In Trail where my son lived they got tons of snow and he had heat installed in the driveway to melt the snow it was great and in your case perfect since the garage is higher than the driveway all the water will just run away. Where is it you live ? We live near Kootenay Lake . I can’t really see how to address this without a whole lot of work to see exactly what can be done , with a big enough money tree anything is possible

I am not an architect, but I do own a sloped lot in a snowy location. I have one design (but haven't yet built) and it was designed with the garage on the bottom and the living space up top. The garage dug into the slope, presumably to help position it so the elevation between the street and the garage wasn't as severe. The driveway was curving and longer, again probably to reduce the steepness. The county and the HOA have many rules about the allowed steepness and the angle at which the driveway can meet the road in order to prevent problems with cars entering/exiting the driveway. Does your second garage have to connect directly to the main level? Can't you walk up some stairs? What would you prefer, stairs or steep driveway? Oh and we wanted a lot of garage space too. My husband likes to work on vehicles and needed a shop space. We also wanted extra storage out of the snowy weather for "toys" such as motorcycles, maybe a small camper trailer or boat. I don't quite understand why there is so much backlash against garage space. People have different needs for their homes. No one bats an eye when people want more bedrooms or extra living/family/away rooms or multiple dining tables (formal and family). Garage space can be great for a lot of purposes beyond storing cars (shop space, hobby space, gym space, tool storage, etc).