Vic, who has owned the property at 5120 44th Street West for 22 years, requested permission to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) just 6.5 feet from his rear property line, rather than the required 12 feet. The variance was necessary because the property is constrained by unusual front-yard setback requirements that limit where he can build.

Commissioners praised Vic's design approach, which places the lower-height section of the structure closer to the property line while setting the two-story portion back 16 feet—exceeding the standard requirement. "The fact that you adapted the design to make sure that the part that was infringing on the setback requirement was a lower height was kind of the factor that tipped the scales," Commissioner Felt said.

Vic's wife, Janelle, told commissioners they had hand-delivered project renderings to neighbors and met in person with adjacent property owners, who expressed support. The railroad right-of-way behind the property also minimized concerns about neighbor impact, commissioners noted. Chair Bennett called the project "such a beautiful piece that fits in a complicated puzzle."

In other business, Commissioner Felt raised concerns about the city's work-from-home zoning rules, which restrict non-resident workers and limit client visits to 10 per day. She suggested the ordinance may need updating to reflect post-pandemic changes in remote work, including collaborative projects where workers may not all be residents. Staff indicated the review would be incorporated into a broader code update process. The commission also received updates on City Council approvals, including the Opus office building at 5100 Eden Avenue, which was approved with conditions requiring stone building materials on the first level and improved pedestrian connectivity.