Hearings officer keeps record open in Sandy appeal over verification of nonconforming office use

Hearings Officer Joe Turner held a Jan. 8, 2026 hearing on appeal Z088-25, in which the applicant challenged a county director's decision denying verification of an existing nonconforming commercial office use at 46881 Southeast Highway 26 in Sandy following a March 4, 2024 fire. Turner said he would review the record and relevant case law before issuing a written decision.

County planning staff summarized the staff report and the denial. Staff stated that the application was denied because it could not be shown that the upstairs portion of the building had been in continuous commercial office use and because a 2005 alteration authorizing conversion to office space did not appear to have been lawfully implemented. "The initial decision is denial," staff said. The staff presentation cited Zoning and Development Ordinance provisions on discontinuance (12.0604), verification (12.0605), and restoration after damage (12.0606), and noted that physical restoration…