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Planning commission approves variances for 3‑unit infill at 1008 Hyatt Street
Summary
Lebanon Planning Commission unanimously approved an administrative review and three variances to convert existing accessory structures into a third dwelling at 1008 Hyatt Street, allowing a small triplex to be formalized despite substandard lot area, reduced setbacks and existing vehicle maneuvering conditions.
The Lebanon Planning Commission on an evening meeting approved an administrative review and three variances for AR‑25‑02 to allow conversion of existing structures into a three‑unit multifamily development at 1008 Hyatt Street, voting unanimously to adopt the written findings and direct staff to draft an order of decision.
City planning staff told the commission the property is zoned Residential High Density and already contains a single‑family house and an accessory building made up of two single‑car garages with a storage area above that was built to the accessory‑structure standards in place when it was constructed. The applicant seeks to convert that upper storage space into a studio apartment and thereby create three dwelling units on the lot; staff said the application otherwise meets administrative‑review standards for open space and parking.
The variances requested are (1) minimum lot area for three units (the lot is “a couple hundred square feet” smaller than required), (2) a reduction of a rear/side setback that currently measures 10 feet but would normally be 20 feet for multifamily — the applicant said the conversion would require a setback of roughly 6–7 feet at one location — and (3) an exemption from the vehicle‑maneuvering rule that would ordinarily prevent backing directly onto a public street once unit count exceeds two.
"It's a good infill development and that missing middle that Lebanon has talked a lot about lately," applicant representative Laura Larocque of Pathfinder Land Use Consulting said in support of the request. Staff summarized that "the application meets the standards for the administrative review" aside from the three variance findings provided in the packet.
No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the public‑testimony portion. Commissioners asked whether recent zoning code changes would have avoided the need for variances; staff said the new code provides additional options in some cases, but the existing structure's location and preexisting accessory‑structure dimensions would still require variances in this instance.
A commissioner moved to approve the administrative review and variances and to direct staff to draft an order of decision incorporating the findings and conditions of approval; a second followed. The motion carried unanimously with all present commissioners voting yes (Commissioner Thompson; Commissioner Malloy; Commissioner Baxter; Commissioner Miller; Commissioner Fountain; Vice Chair Gary Kunrowski; Chair Robertson).
The order of decision will be prepared by staff to reflect the findings and development conditions included in the staff report.
