[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6352989,"mediaKeyId","2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60","parentId",2222026,"title","Board of Appeals actions: two variances approved; several orders signed or scheduled","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",3289000,"endMs",3449000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60&start=3289&end=3449","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60/thumbnail_3289000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352989/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-of-Appeals-actions-two-variances-approved-several-orders-signed-or-scheduled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352989-f4b40b38651735e2e914edbddc111172/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965824&Signature=YpHTm2OogQaY6KzuENJKmhRz~vFm2qle~8cNvuTpoMXsBxrBqnvPBNI8gWLDTb~OUzXh3H4AkfReE7L4aqWW6PcpGeKqDAH0L5I7GdHzBbWFBEpUmGnhwml-7CvYOuHzeYJchBT6z1xAK9IfUbcQW993PVqNDQ8tmGWcLhfsRUeQFM2W44POgPBzODDteBoNF4xq3qqs-Qvan7NsRAikaGvqlf3Dxx-o1wF0iFsga3L7ku-Iq1kGzI2qHy8YbRYRHovfWCZt4JCCWj3G-PmXBa3EMEHVdf-WcWlTW6ZIPXg~2hiDh8ZtSleBc2gGz3QejdlJcQV81gt0eQEAFk0xcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-05T11:37:04Z","article","The Saint Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 14 recorded multiple formal actions in addition to hearing two public- hearing variance requests.

Key votes and administrative actions at the meeting:

Bowles variance (VAAP number 21DashO824): Approved to disturb critical-area buffer to construct a single-family dwelling over an existing foundation. Vote: 5–0. Staff to prepare an order within 60 days; a 30-day appeal period follows once signed.

Long variance (VAAP number 21Dash1516): Approved to disturb an expanded 100-foot non-tidal wetland buffer to remove an existing house and build a new elevated single-family dwelling. Vote: 5–0. Staff to prepare an order within 60 days; pending Soil Conservation District and Metcom final approvals were noted.

Approval of minutes: The board approved minutes for the prior meeting (listed in package) by voice vote (aye).

Orders prepared for signature (status and vote notes from meeting):
- Mars Point restaurant (temporary waterfront tent, after-the-fact amendment): Board recorded a split decision on the amendment referenced in the orders (members voting to grant the amendment: Dan Nikniaowski, Guy Bradley, Rich Richardson; members voting to deny: Wayne Madinski, Ronald Payne). Staff to verify applicant testimony detail about a mat/flooring before final signing of the order.
- Mattingly property (after-the-fact variance, mitigation and extensions): Motion to sign order carried (voice vote recorded as aye); prior motion to approve the variance was recorded as 5–0.
- Closed-property ramps (variance for buffer distance for handicap ramps/extensions): Motion to sign order carried; prior decision recorded as 4–1 (Wayne Madinski voting to deny).
- Smith Creek Marina (after-the-fact construction of an outdoor bar within 100-foot buffer): Motion to sign order carried; prior decision recorded as 4–1 (Rich Richardson recorded as voting to deny in that case).

Staff noted it will circulate order drafts and confirm specific wording items (for example, whether the applicant said a temporary 'mat' or 'temporary flooring' in an earlier hearing) before final signatures. Each order includes a standard 30-day appeal period once signed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/14/2022 St. Mary's County Zoning Board of Appeals","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 14 meeting the Saint Mary’s County Board of Appeals approved two variance requests (Bowles and Long properties), approved March meeting minutes, and scheduled or signed orders for several previously heard variances (Mars Point restaurant, Mattingly property, closed-property ramps, Smith Creek Marina).","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6352994,"Board approves Long property variance to disturb expanded wetland buffer for replacement home in Piney Point",1092,2144000,3236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60&start=2144&end=3236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60/thumbnail_2144000.jpg","/articles/6352994/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-approves-Long-property-variance-to-disturb-expanded-wetland-buffer-for-replacement-home-in-Piney-Point","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352994-290bd255e82ac002918c0a194d22af9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965824&Signature=ggTaF7ZTapUlFFh8EL81dq1znGJyK~1u~26lss1O5-koiety64rJo7c6BvtddZd9-H2j6eTf5HwbyvUbau8j~vCRCaUaFGdW2lm7bYMz-jvywpo8WLhZ63dJREQVNDjWLNbadTKO0Ek1pgFUGBNBArI3slJf1wuxjIqTzaYmduxhLHmwxVc5s34KOpR8HMp8YQ7jqRI2Je8JneQ8oU0s4TYJDc8~TZecIn4QyKijvV75O~-YliLH6cF6dLCwanRpWypuZjhxGU4MkorMNJYtwr060XJlU3mSIPMAa3B9IQoc5aAOnko2r4XzTQuG-VNaYVuDP-TkS3RYnLaEADVIfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Saint Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 14 approved a variance permitting disturbance of an expanded wetland buffer to allow demolition of an existing dwelling and construction of a new elevated single-family house at 16712 Piney Point Road in Piney Point.

Staff described the property as a 64,469-square-foot parcel with extensive on-site non-tidal wetlands that, because of hydric soils, expand the standard 25-foot wetland buffer to 100 feet across much of the lot. Stacy Clements said MDE classified the on-site wetlands as non-tidal and that the Maryland Department of the Environment, stormwater management, and the county’s planning materials had reviewed and approved the site plan; pending sign-offs included Soil Conservation District and Metcom.

Steve Vaughn, agent for owner Maurice Long and presenting for Little Silence’s Rest (LSR), said the proposal would remove the existing house and garage and replace them with a smaller, elevated house with parking under the living area. Vaughn said the existing lot coverage was 8,181 square feet; the project would remove about 5,10 square feet (as recorded in the application materials) and place new coverage at 4,918 square feet — a net reduction of 192 square feet.

Vaughn described the proposed design as meeting flood-elevation requirements, with living areas raised (he said the current site elevation is about elevation 3 and living areas will be at about elevation 12) and the parking/carport on the water side beneath the raised living space. He explained the circular driveway would be reduced, access improved to the new carport, and that the plan included stormwater-management disconnects and use of the existing grinder pump on site.

Board members questioned elevation, driveway orientation and the proposed dewatering basin and were told soils testing and engineering will be required; Vaughn said foundation engineering and soil tests will confirm appropriate bearing and compaction for the new home.

After closing public testimony (no callers or speakers), the board voted to approve the variance request from section 71.5.2 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to disturb the expanded non-tidal wetland buffer and construct the dwelling. Staff will prepare an order documenting the board’s decision to be signed within 60 days; a 30-day appeal period follows once the order is signed.","The Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing disturbance of an expanded 100-foot non-tidal wetland buffer to demolish an existing house and build a new elevated house with parking under the living area on Piney Point Road. Agencies including MDE and stormwater management approved the plan; the board found variance standards met.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6352999,"Saint Mary’s County board approves Bowles variance to build over existing foundation in critical area buffer",1724,368000,2092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60&start=368&end=2092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2222026-f41b749c3ef15ab829d226698b79cf60/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6352999/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Saint-Marys-County-board-approves-Bowles-variance-to-build-over-existing-foundation-in-critical-area-buffer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352999-920c37fe2eda96e61ca60ee71e2749c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965824&Signature=YiHQ7SCzDUFr7np8lepHKk7h2hekci8TNxtRb1AnXoE23vk1-5liViXcojZmqJlDKyrwfeL-AvH1f~1LVwcIpU~qaBD78LnhgNg1WizKklMrnXv7YFSpTIJ133RBHEYuIzOps879eiJ-7IFE66HbN2hoOxhoKjab9t9rtLMtEy0ESWwr08ujgE2iv0K1VRypdTCNyRqy2g8XGNSyv9-InTxx~4kVI2ax6SNtxfoHrQYyHzNGYQFjRlqHmwT-SR8yoGqOYGfimhfh-QyVOBLSugsosszGAgi4FE2fESPX6~k48QWfgN4JqRzXerU28~wkAUyp5-bYnciElrbGzQzE7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Saint Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 14 approved a variance allowing the construction of a single-family home over an existing foundation that lies in the county’s critical area buffer on St. George’s Island.

Board Chairman Dan Nikniaowski opened the hearing and staff presented project details showing the owners, Shelby and Susie Bowles, purchased an 18,677-square-foot waterfront lot with an existing permitted foundation. Stacy Clements, county staff, said the application sought a variance from section 71.8.3 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to disturb the critical area buffer to build a residence on that foundation.

John Morris, a local builder representing the Bowleses, told the board the foundation was installed after permits were applied for in February 2006 and constructed in February 2008 as a replacement dwelling after Hurricane Isabel destroyed prior structures. Morris said the proposed house would sit on the existing foundation with a limited 10-by-14-foot exterior stair extension beyond the foundation to provide a second means of egress and allow for a future exterior lift if needed. He said mitigation for lot-coverage increases outside the buffer would be $6,751 and that Metcom and other agencies had approved the plan pending a few remaining sign-offs.

The applicant argued the request met the five critical-area variance standards cited in the county ordinance, including that (1) special conditions exist because of the previously permitted foundation, (2) strict enforcement would deprive the owners of rights commonly enjoyed by similar properties, and (3) the variance is the minimum necessary to achieve reasonable use. Morris also referenced a January 14, 2022 letter from the Critical Area Commission noting no opposition to a variance if the board finds the variance standards satisfied.

Board members asked technical questions about the foundation and soils testing. Morris and others described a full in-ground foundation with footings installed in 2008 and noted a soils-engineering report and compaction testing were included in the permit materials to demonstrate structural suitability. Stacy Clements said disturbance on the site would not exceed 5,000 square feet and therefore would not trigger additional stormwater management requirements.

After closing public testimony, the board voted to approve the variance. The board directed staff to prepare an order reflecting the decision to be signed within 60 days; a 30-day appeal period to the circuit court follows the signed order.

Less-critical administrative details: Susie Bowles was present at the hearing; the applicant clarified the proposed home would be a one-story living area above the garage level rather than the previously permitted two-story design.","The Saint Mary’s County Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing construction of a single-family home over an existing foundation on a waterfront lot in the critical area buffer at St. George’s Island. The board found variance standards met after hearing testimony from the applicant’s representative and county staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board of Appeals actions: two variances approved; several orders signed or scheduled

Board approves Long property variance to disturb expanded wetland buffer for replacement home in Piney Point

Saint Mary’s County board approves Bowles variance to build over existing foundation in critical area buffer