West Linn council tentatively overturns planning commission, approves variance for 2830 Coeur D'Alene

The West Linn City Council voted 4–1 on April 14 to tentatively approve an appeal and remove condition number 2 from a planning-commission approval for a minor partition and class 2 variance at 2830 Coeur D’Alene Drive, directing staff to return findings for formal adoption at the May 12 business meeting.

The decision follows a de novo public hearing on an application (AP‑24‑02 / MIP‑24‑02 / VAR‑24‑05) by property owners Gary and Susie Alson to divide a roughly one‑acre lot into three parcels and to allow five single‑family homes to take access from a 20‑foot private shared driveway. The planning commission had previously approved the partition with conditions; the Alsons appealed the condition that required signatures from adjacent owners to the private access easement.

The appeal hearing drew testimony from the applicant and multiple neighbors. Gary Alson described his family’s 40‑year ownership and said using the existing shared driveway for the additional parcel would avoid costly and difficult work to open a second access to Tract C, including demolition of a detached garage and construction on steep slopes. "We're not altering…