HomeMy WebLinkAboutBuilding Correspondence 1996-01-26C,ITY OF OREGO'V
SPFlINGFIELD
D EVELOPM ENT S ERVIC ES DE PARTMENT 225 FIFTH STREET
SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477
(s41) 726-s7s3
FAX (s41 ) 726-s6gs
January 26,1996
Ms. Bonita R. Cole Whitaker
Ms. Dorothy C. Thomason
405 Sable Drive
RoseburgOR 97470
RE: SecondResidence O-
Springfie[ Oregon
Dear Properly Owner(s),
Our Community Services Division was recently requested to issue an electrical permit to replace an
electrical service at36l l/2 N. tTth Street. File review prior to permit issuance indicates the
aforementioned property is in the t ow Density Residential Zone. Only one residence per lot is allowed in
the LDR [n order to constitute a legal non-conforrning use, evidence is required that the second unit at the
site was originally constructed as a residence prior to single family residential zoning desip.ation or
received approval from the City for the conversion to a residence since the date of the designation.
The City has had a Building Code dating back to 1928; the oldest building pennit information dates back to
1953. No record of building permits for a second residence or conversion of an accessory building have
been found. The City has had zoning regulations dating back to 1939 which allow only one dwelling unit
per lot in the Low Density Residential zoning district (the current single family zoning distict). No record
of an approval to create, or to continue a non-conforming second residence has been found.
ln the absence of Building Pennits or Land Use Planning Approvals, the burden of responsibility to
produce evidence that the residence was lawfully permitted or pre-dates the adoption of the aforementioned
local ordinances belongs to the property owner. I suggest the following potential sources of reliable
information:
1.. Reverse telephone directory for 1250 l/2 B Street.
2. McKenzie Electric for wiring records.
3. Check Lane County Elections for 1250 l/2 B Street.
4. Obtain a chain of title.
5. Check Lane County and Springfield Museum records.
ln addition, if you can locate a person or persons who may have lived in, or have knowledge of 1250 ll2B
Sfreet being used as a residence prior to 1939, the City will consider wriften affidavits.
I do wish you luck in locating some evidence showing the building is a legal dwelling unit Please present
proof to Development Services personnel and request your desired permit at your earliest convenience.
Should you not have any success, please have improvements made without perrnits removd discontinue
the use of the second address and call the Building Inspection Line at 726- 3769 to veriS the use of the
stmcture as an accessory building by March l, 1996.
Respectfully,
James P. Donovan,
DSD Planner I
2
cc: Jackie