Question: Who is building the very large home above the playground area of Mingus Park on 11th Street?

Answer: Steve Wenbourne of Wenbourne & Sons is building a single-family home at 294 N. 11th St.

It will have 4,151 square feet, with a 1,140-square foot garage, said Laura Barron, Coos Bay’s planning administrator.

The contractor has requested a variance to allow him to build the house taller than rules allow. The city received plans suggesting it would be 32 feet high, but officials later learned the plan was to build it up to 38 feet, Barron said. The city  limits the height of new homes to 35 feet.

Wenbourne has framed the house, and construction continues on the garage, which doesn’t exceed the height limit. But the city issued a partial stop work order earlier this month on the top six feet of the roof and staff is recommending denial, Barron said.

The owner of the property, Barry Richardson, said the issue stemmed from a misinterpretation of the drawings. He has made an effort to have the building fit in with the surrounding neighborhood.

“I wanted something pretty and still tasteful,” he said.

He said the building is only 36 inches above city guidelines and he hasn’t heard any complaints from neighbors.  But he respects the rules and simply hopes city officials approve the variance.

The matter will be discussed at a Coos Bay Planning Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 500 Central Ave.

(I Want to Know is a regular feature of The World, offering readers a chance to anonymously ask questions and have reporters pursue answers. Those interested can e-mail questions to news@theworld link.com.)