Planning commission approves variance for shop at N 3744 E

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance (VAR26-0002) on March 18, 2026, permitting a 15-foot setback on the northern property line for a proposed shop where 24.5 feet was required for a 28.5-foot-tall building on a 1.06-acre lot off N 3744 E in Terrace Hills Division No. 2.

Planner Jenna Huennekens presented the application and described the code citation (Jefferson County Code Sec. 112-263). Applicant Riley Jeppesen told the commission the lot’s angle and the location of the existing well and access constrained placement: “The access point would be over our well. To have access to our shop door, that would put us almost over our well,” Jeppesen said. Jeppesen said he had tried multiple configurations and wished to avoid creating additional road frontage.

Commission discussion weighed public-safety concerns against the site’s constraints. Commissioner Sean Priest said, “I do have a problem with the overall rule itself,” pointing to whether measuring to the gable end rather than the eave height creates unnecessary hardship. Chairman Michael Clark said he did not see a problem with the applicant’s proposal and noted that no neighbors had filed objections. Commissioner Lacy Barney dissented, finding the variance did not meet one criterion for site characteristics.

Commissioner Jared Arnell moved to approve the variance with the conditions listed in the staff report and a finding that the variance affects only a corner of the shop; Commissioner Sean Priest seconded. The motion carried 5–1 (Priest, Arnold, Barry, Albertson, Arnell in favor; Barney opposed).

The approval includes the staff-recommended conditions; the commission also signaled interest in reviewing whether the code’s measurement standard should be revised in the future. No further implementation dates were specified at the hearing.