Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment approves variance allowing larger outbuilding encroachment

The Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment approved a variance allowing an outbuilding to encroach further into the north and rear property setbacks after staff said a neighboring utility easement had been vacated.

Staff member Mister Brandt told the board the item was previously heard in May and that the applicant originally sought a 5-foot encroachment into the north setback and a 1-foot encroachment into the east setback. Brandt said the applicant later determined they needed larger encroachments and are now seeking "8 feet into that" on the north and "6 feet into the rear property line," and that "that utility easement to the east no longer exist." He also told the board, "Nobody has contacted us by phone. Nobody has filed any written protest."

An applicant representative said they had spoken with neighbors, including a Mr. Walton, that driveway access to the outbuilding would be from Crossfield, and that one tree would be removed while the tree line on the east side of the property would remain and additional trees would be planted.

After brief discussion, an unidentified board member moved to approve the variance request and a second was recorded. In a roll-call vote Board member Jennifer Arsenal voted "Aye," Board member Randy Goodman voted "Aye," and Board member Cooper Robinson voted "Aye." The chair announced the variance approved.

Earlier in the meeting the board also approved the minutes from its Oct. 7 meeting by unanimous roll call. The meeting adjourned following the variance vote.

What happens next: the board’s approval grants the variance for this property; any further action (such as building permits or inspection requirements) would follow normal county procedures and were not addressed at the meeting.