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Ada County approves variance to expand secondary dwelling at 4905 West View Place
Summary
The Ada County Board of Commissioners approved a variance allowing an expansion of a detached secondary dwelling at 4905 West View Place so the structure can better accommodate an owner’s wheelchair and permit family caretaking arrangements.
The Ada County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved application 202500462-AC-V, granting a variance to expand a detached secondary dwelling at 4905 West View Place in Meridian's area of impact. Staff had recommended approval after finding the application met the three variance findings required by Ada County code.
Staff planner Amelia Haynes told the board the project, filed under applicant name “Lynn Cotner,” seeks to increase the secondary dwelling’s living area from the 1,200-square-foot maximum to roughly 1,400 square feet by finishing a basement under the existing structure. Haynes said the property is one acre in the Estate residential district and that no agency or neighbor opposition was recorded; the staff report was entered as exhibit 28.
The applicant's husband, Rich Cotner, spoke at the hearing and described why the change is needed. “We had a plan. We were gonna move into that house. They were gonna take the big house when they started having children,” Cotner said, explaining the secondary dwelling had been remodeled for ADA access but still did not allow the homeowner’s wife to maneuver a wheelchair once furniture was in place. He told commissioners the finished basement would keep the secondary building’s outward historic appearance intact while providing more usable interior space.
Haynes said staff concluded the proposal does not confer a special privilege, relieves an undue hardship related to the site’s existing structure and design, and is not detrimental to public health, safety or welfare. The board received no public opposition and had no questions for staff.
After a motion to approve based on the staff findings and testimony, commissioners voted aye and the motion carried. The record shows the board closed the public hearing before voting; staff presentation remains in the record as exhibit 28.
The approval permits the applicant to finish living space below the existing secondary dwelling to reach the requested 1,400 square feet; the board noted that any building permits and inspections required by county building code remain required before occupancy of new living space.
