COEUR d'ALENE - Paul Chivvis figured it would be a breeze, getting Kootenai County approval to replace North Idaho College's boathouse on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

After all, it is needed.

The structure dating back to the '60s (actually, it's two structures pushed together) isn't secure from break-ins, and suffers from a collapsing roof.

And the 34-by-16-foot building on Rosenberry Drive is too small to accommodate all the school's boating equipment, which is rented out and used for classes.

"We have to keep a lot of stuff outside, canoes and kayaks," said Chivvis, NIC instructor for Resort/Recreation Management. "If someone wanted to steal something out there, they can do it rather easily."

But complications have come up.

County code requires structures on such industrial zoning be 50 feet from the front yard setback.

The current facility, where the desired new one would also be, is only 5 feet back.

"I guess it's unknown," said Eric Olson, engineer with Ruen-Yeager and Associates, of why the facility is so close. "It's been there since awhile back, maybe nobody was paying attention."

Accommodating the requirement would mean moving the boathouse further down toward the beach and removing trees, a retaining wall and the popular volleyball court, said Olson, who is contracted by NIC.

On top of that, to meet the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, the new building would have to be raised 9 feet in the air.

That would make the anticipated $12,000 pole barn not so plausible, Chivvis said.

"We can't afford to do that by any stretch of the imagination," he said of moving and raising the building. "It would probably be $50,000 worth of excavation and ground work just to put the building in, based on current code."

NIC has requested a variance from the code requirements.

A county examiner recommended denial after a June hearing.

"The applicant has failed to demonstrate that strict enforcement of the ordinance would result in an undue hardship," examiner Lisa Key wrote in her report.

Key suggested NIC apply for a zone change, so the 50-foot setback wouldn't be required.

Or, the applicant could move the structure down and relocate the volleyball court elsewhere on the 5-acre site, she wrote.

Olson pointed out that other zones would still require setbacks.

The school isn't worried about the facility not being elevated above the flood zone, Olson added.

"Even if the building were to flood, it's really just boat storage," he said. "What's being stored in there is built to withstand the water."

The boathouse stores 28 kayaks, 4 sailboats and related equipment. More than 1,000 people used the materials last year.

Erich Hoffeld of Post Falls, relaxing by the boathouse on Thursday, said he sees people rent items there often.

"This is a great option for here, having the ability to rent this stuff," he said.

But Hoffeld would be upset, he said, if the volleyball court was removed for the boathouse's sake.

"The majority of why people who come to this spot is to play volleyball," the 40-year-old said. "I go to Peak Fitness, and we get all the guys together, 'OK, Tuesday night is volleyball,' and we meet here."

The county commissioners will hold a public hearing over the proposed variances at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 in the county Administration Building.

The new facility would be 20 by 40 feet.

The city of Coeur d'Alene, removing trees near that area for dike safety, wrote to the county that it has no objections to the project.

Chivvis said he hopes to prove that the replacement can't happen without variances.

"I understand why there's rules," he said. "Just in order for us to have this building, the way I look at it, the variance, I felt we definitely would qualify for it."