Cottage Grove commission approves front‑yard shed location but denies metal exterior

The Cottage Grove Planning Commission on June 23 approved a conditional use permit and a variance to allow an accessory structure in the front yard at 6255 Hadley Avenue South but denied a separate variance that would have allowed the building’s exterior to be metal.

Max, city planning staff, presented the application for property owner and applicant Al Dressley. The request sought permission to construct a 1,360-square-foot accessory building, bringing the site’s total accessory square footage to 2,340 square feet when combined with an existing 980-square-foot structure. Staff said the property is in the R2 Residential District and referenced City Code Title 11 3 5 f, which allows an exceedance of the 2,000-square-foot accessory limit only when three code criteria are met. Max told the commission the site has natural screening, the proposed building would be about 140 feet from the public right-of-way and the applicant’s proposed…