Hearings officer to issue decision after Arch Cape oceanfront‑setback variance hearing; staff recommended denial

Rebecca Dorman, the Clatsop County hearings officer, closed a public hearing and said she will issue a written decision on a request by property owners to allow a small infill within the county’s oceanfront setback at 80198 Pacific Road in Arch Cape.

Jason Pollock, the county staff planner assigned to the file, told the hearing that the application requests about a 3-foot encroachment totaling roughly 22 square feet and that staff recommends denial. "We staff would recommend denial of the variance based on those facts," Pollock said, summarizing staff's view that no extraordinary or exceptional circumstances were demonstrated and that the property can be reasonably used without the variance.

The applicants — identified in the record as Mark Meyer (property owner) and an applicant representative who identified himself as Vito Sorelli — said the request is narrowly tailored to support an existing second‑story cantilever and to repair chronic roof and window leakage. "We do feel that this is an extraordinary situation that's not similar to a lot of surrounding properties," Sorelli said, arguing that infilling beneath the cantilever on the ground floor would primarily provide structural support and would have low visual impact.

Pollock told the hearings officer that the structure was built in 1976 and is a legal nonconforming dwelling under current code; the oceanfront setback standard used today was adopted by ordinance in 2003. He emphasized that planning practice treats additions into a setback as new development that requires a variance even if part of the structure already occupies the setback.

Dorman asked clarifying questions about signatures on the application and ownership documentation; Pollock said the county holds an official document in the confidential record showing the signee for the Laura R. Meyer revocable trust. Dorman also asked to be provided a PDF copy of the ordinance text (her "whereas" clauses) for her review; Pollock agreed to supply the pages.

The applicants declined the hearings officer's offer to keep the record open for additional written argument. After hearing presentations and clarifications, Dorman closed the record and the hearing. She said she will issue a written decision to the county and distribute it to the parties, and that the county's appeal period runs for 12 days after county mail notice of the hearings officer's decision.

No vote was taken at the hearing; the hearings officer will apply the county code and approval criteria to the record before issuing a decision. The record indicates that a written decision was expected to be submitted to the county on or before April 21.