YACHATS – The Yachats Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to deny a variance request by a homeowner along Yachats Ocean Road to build a 780-square-foot structure within 20 feet of the street.
Richard Henkens Jr. owns a house and a triangular piece of property at 550 Yachats Ocean Road that intersects with U.S. Highway 101. He asked for a variance from a city ordinance that says buildings in residential zones need to be 20 feet from a front street or side street.
Henkens said the proposed structure would be used as a workout/exercise area and submitted a plan that put it about 11 feet from Yachats Ocean Road. While he said in his application that the unusual shape of the property prevented the building from being 20 feet from the road, he told the commission Tuesday that if it denied the request he might decrease the size and move it enough to meet the 20-foot setback requirement.
Henkens’ request drew objections from three neighbors, who worried the proposed structure would block sight lines along the narrow road. Henkens contended it would not.
In a brief discussion, commission members said they were not convinced there was enough of a hardship, that Henkens had built his home knowing it could be extended to the west to create an exercise area, and that there was still room for a smaller building.
“I’m not convinced this is necessary,” said commissioner Loren Dickinson.
The vote to deny the variance request was 6-0.
