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Wheeler planning commission approves lot-line variance to resolve split greenhouse and RV pad
Summary
The Wheeler Planning Commission on Oct. 2 approved a variance and revised lot boundary that consolidates improvements now split across two parcels at 67 Spruce Street and 61st Street. Staff recommended approval after finding the adjustment meets code criteria; the applicant must submit a revised site plan and survey for recordation.
The Wheeler Planning Commission voted Oct. 2 to approve a variance and a revised lot boundary that will place a greenhouse and an RV pad wholly on one parcel, resolving improvements currently bisected by a common lot line.
Staff told the commission the situation is "very unique" and that the two properties — 67 Spruce Street and 61st Street — have been in common ownership for some time and contain improvements that cross the existing lot line. Planning staff concluded "the proposed variance, complies with the applicable criteria of the code, and recommends the planning commission approve the variance adopting the staff report as the findings of fact." The report noted there would be no physical change to the improvements and that the variance is intended to allow the parcels to be sold separately.
The applicant, Robert Schumann, said the lot configuration and an unexpected jog in the recorded line left the family with a parcel smaller than they expected when they purchased the properties. Schumann told the commission that after buying the first property he later acquired the adjacent lot to preserve what he had bought and "we just want what we signed up for," and added that he felt prior sellers had been "a little less than honest." Schumann described the practical impacts: consolidating the greenhouse and RV pad onto a single lot would match how the property is used.
Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about parcel areas and survey specifics during deliberations. Participants discussed area figures for the parcels (one set of figures noted in the hearing compared roughly 4,141 square feet vs. a revised 4,520 square feet), and staff advised that minor changes discussed at the hearing would not require new neighbor notification but that an accurately redrawn site plan is needed to complete the lot-line adjustment application.
A motion to approve the revised boundary, as shown by the applicant, carried with commissioners verbally recorded as voting "aye," including Heather Parker, Anna St. John and Dennis Clowes. Staff said it will prepare the final order and record the change after the applicant files the required, redrawn site plan and survey.
Next steps: the applicant must submit an accurately redrawn site plan for staff review and the planning department will prepare and file the final order to implement the lot-line adjustment.
