Lincoln County planning commission approves 1,900‑square‑foot accessory building for Harrisburg-area property owner

Lincoln County Planning Commission on an unspecified date approved a conditional use permit to allow property owner Matthew Haugen to add a 1,900‑square‑foot accessory building to a residential lot in the Springdale Estates subdivision near Harrisburg.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the permit after County Planner Toby Brown presented the staff report and recommended approval with standard conditions, including a prohibition on commercial use within the structure. Brown told the commission the subject parcel is zoned RR (rural residential) and already contains a single‑family dwelling and a small accessory building that staff described as about 192 square feet. Brown said the applicant is proposing a 1,900 square‑foot building and that staff’s recommendation reflected the pattern of other accessory buildings in the subdivision, which range from smaller sheds to structures of about 1,856 and roughly 5,100 square feet.

Why it matters: The permit allows a very large accessory building on a residential lot and sets conditions intended to keep the property’s principal use residential. Commissioners emphasized neighborhood character and infrastructure issues — particularly driveway access overseen by the Springdale Estates Road District — and asked staff how drainage and floodplain concerns would be addressed.

Staff and applicant comments Toby Brown said staff required that the building be used for personal storage only and that their usual five conditions be applied. He explained that the road district controls approval of a second driveway to serve the proposed garage and that the building permit process would require a flood development review. "The building permit application will require flood development permit because of the property," Brown said, adding that an engineer would need to provide elevations and staff will analyze drainage impacts on surrounding properties.

Applicant Matthew Haugen, who identified himself as the owner at 47405 Cardinal Place, said the structure is intended for family storage and to make room for camping equipment and vehicles currently stored outside. "Just growing family and activities. We've got camper and trailer and kids will be driving soon and no place to park," Haugen said.

Neighbor concerns and commission discussion Next‑door neighbor Todd Hirschkorn spoke in support of the application but said his main concern was potential drainage impacts to his yard from the proposed construction. "The only thing from our concern ... it's just the drainage," Hirschkorn told the commission.

Commissioners asked whether the applicant had contacted the Springdale Estates Road District about a second driveway; Haugen said he had not contacted the road district’s officers but believed it would not be a major obstacle. Commissioner Bootz, who moved approval, said he tended to favor allowing garages to prevent outdoor clutter, and the board discussed the subdivision’s existing range of accessory building sizes.

Vote at a glance - Approve meeting minutes from previous meeting — mover: Commissioner Green; second: John Link; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve meeting agenda — mover: Commissioner Bootz; second: Commissioner Sweeter; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Conditional use permit for Matthew Haugen to add a 1,900 sq. ft. accessory building (proposed use: personal storage; no commercial use allowed) — mover: Commissioner Bootz; second: Commissioner Green; roll call: Bootz: yes; Junglin: yes; Otten: yes; Sweeter: yes; Green: yes; Scott: yes; outcome: approved (6‑0).

What happens next Before a building permit will be issued, the applicant must secure any driveway/access approvals required by the Springdale Estates Road District and complete the flood development/building permit process, which will include engineering analyses of elevations and drainage. Staff recommended the county apply its standard five conditions for permits of this type.

Ending The commission closed the public hearing after hearing from the applicant and one neighboring resident and adopted staff’s recommended conditions. The county planning office will enforce the permit conditions and process related engineering and driveway approvals before construction can proceed.