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Board approves two‑family dwelling at 240 Indiana Avenue with design and garage protections
Summary
The Pendleton Board of Appeals on June 16 approved variances allowing a two‑story, two‑unit dwelling at 240 Indiana Avenue, granting exceptions for height, garage orientation, and ground‑floor area while adding conditions to preserve architectural character and keep the garage as parking.
The Pendleton Board of Appeals voted June 16 to approve a variance package allowing a two‑family dwelling at 240 Indiana Avenue in the town's Residential Core (RC) district, but added two conditions intended to preserve the block's character.
Staff told the board the property is made up of four narrow replat parcels and that the petition seeks three variances: (1) allow a two‑story building where most homes on the block are one story; (2) permit a front‑loaded garage because rear or side loading is impractical on the narrow lots; and (3) allow each ground‑floor unit to have 737 square feet of living area, slightly under the UDO's 800‑square‑foot measure but resulting in the overall building exceeding that number when the garage is included. "The proposed variances do not appear to create a risk for public health, safety, and general welfare," staff said during the presentation.
Board members asked detailed questions about the proposed garage elevation, window placement and materials. Staff said the exterior will use fiber‑cement siding (Hardie plank) and that the building meets setbacks and impervious‑surface limits. Members also sought a commitment to prevent conversion of garage space to living area and to avoid a dominant plain garage face on the street.
The board approved the petition (B 06162026-01) adopting staff's findings of fact and attaching two conditions: the finished building should be substantially similar to the submitted architectural graphics, and the garage must be maintained for vehicular parking (not converted to living space) with required parking spaces preserved. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: the petitioner will obtain building permits and coordinate any required garage relocation on the site; the planning department will enforce the approved conditions as part of permit review.
