Board grants multiple variances for Reeder lakeshore rebuild at 24666 140th Street

The Orleans Zoning Board of Adjustment approved three variances on July 15 allowing Brent and Kara Reeder to remove an existing nonconforming house and rebuild at 24666 140th Street in the R-1 Lakeshore Residential District. The board voted 5-0 on each item: left and right yard setbacks of three inches from each lot line (versus a five-foot requirement), minimum lot area relief from 7,500 sq ft to approximately 1,808 sq ft, and minimum lot width relief from 50 feet to 16 feet.

Brent Reeder told the board the property had multiple compliance issues that rebuilding would resolve except for two remaining items; he added that the rebuilt structure would include safety improvements absent from the current house. "Rebuilding the structure would resolve all but two of those issues and would add safety features that the existing structure does not have," Reeder said. The record shows the board considered the required variance factors for each request and recorded affirmative responses for factor 1 and negative responses for factors 2–4 before voting to approve each variance by roll-call.

Multiple neighbors and property owners offered support: written endorsements were filed by Rex and Jan Ramsey and by Roger and Jo Obbink; Peggi Olson, Steve Reeder and Sarah Haver spoke in favor during the public hearing. The board closed the public hearing at 5:13 p.m. and recorded the votes immediately afterward.

The approvals will allow the Reeder applicants to proceed with a proposed 54-foot-6-inch by 15-foot-6-inch house on a 16-foot-wide, 113-foot-deep lot; the record notes the lot is approximately 1,808 square feet. All motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes of Schmidt, Hanby, Harris, Miller and Hoss. The board adjourned at 5:26 p.m.