[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6200085,"mediaKeyId","3819473-7abe44e6bf12c2b7d22016ef7d296cd5","parentId",3819473,"title","Owner of nonconforming Rade's Cove Road lot asks board for setbacks and lot‑size variance to allow home","audioSeconds",1414,"startMs",981000,"endMs",2395000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3819473-7abe44e6bf12c2b7d22016ef7d296cd5&start=981&end=2395","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3819473-7abe44e6bf12c2b7d22016ef7d296cd5/thumbnail_981000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6200085/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Owner-of-nonconforming-Rades-Cove-Road-lot-asks-board-for-setbacks-and-lotsize-variance-to-allow-home","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200085-37fdeb0843fb6bc734f2963d97faf3f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1777099694&Signature=TpLkFZp11FZxwb4GpCkYo1o5qg5JBH54ZoUfb0WIKuKKjCbaL9GdpopXRP1c~dmZrhoC9WIbAr5wzvYPkdyIuDA0yTELf0PEe~Mceslhj1cxnfoecJgXc4cy~u5LNEa85eKYtUYISYGgGmpNjTdzsmFsnnAVXpNJOAscHaxeIa6omFJDn81PMpG3NCX6XZEIRat0~ynu6HaAuUI9p9mUsJxHsOG3KtmTJt04jKIWk3e2ZS0wtNVAjnEXjiGkChnToT3rkK0jxV~pmPkGduHnyzx6pvV08JrPORV2Unb8GqwS~-s~Z4vyFJbSHajGKpsAzOc2HCF4eGL~HDknVcecpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sumner County, TN","date","2025-06-13T13:14:28Z","article","A property owner identified in the meeting packet as Mr. Mills asked the Sumner County Board of Zoning Appeals for variances to allow residential construction on an irregular, nonplatted lot along Rade's Cove Road. Planning staff told the board the lot does not meet the county's minimum 40,000‑square‑foot requirement for the Rural Preservation zoning district and that a front‑yard setback applicable to the site effectively requires a 60‑foot setback because the road is a main arterial; staff said the owner is requesting a reduction of the front setback to allow a building envelope.

\"This lot is not platted and therefore not legal, based on the chapter,\" Planning staff said while reviewing the Zoning Compliance application included in the board packet. Staff said the lot was created historically by the taking of railroad right‑of‑way in the late 19th century, is irregular in shape and has extreme rear topography (a bluff) that, together with a creek that requires a 30‑yard buffer and the location of an existing septic system, leaves only a small triangular building envelope for a home.

Staff described the building envelope shown in the packet as roughly 1,200 square feet on paper and said some house iterations could be as small as about 700 square feet to fit within that pad. Planning staff said earlier in the review the request had been characterized as a reduction from a 60‑foot front setback to 40 feet, but that given rights‑of‑way and engineering constraints the realistic request for the addition and accessory structure is from 60 feet to 24 feet.

Richard Gray, a surveyor listed in the packet, introduced himself to the board and said he would answer questions about the property survey. \"I'll answer any questions y'all may have about the problem,\" Richard Gray said.

Staff reviewed county standards for nonconforming lots and noted that Sumner County subdivision regulations require lots created after the zoning adoption date to be platted before obtaining building permits; the presenter referenced the county zoning adoption date as July 9, 1973 in that explanation. Staff also told the board a state review would not evaluate soils for the site unless the zoning process indicated approval was possible, and that the state could require soils amendments if approvals proceed.

Planning staff cautioned the board about precedent: several county properties are nonconforming in similar ways, and a change in the minimum lot‑size enforcement could affect many parcels. Staff said no evidence was presented at the hearing that granting the variance would diminish public safety or property values; the packet included a proposed plat showing a small building pad and a driveway that would require state or county engineering approval because of proximity to an intersection and soils constraints.

The board opened the matter for public hearing; the transcript does not record a final vote. Staff presented three sample motions for the board’s consideration: find that the variance standards are met and approve the request with standard conditions (including obtaining required permits and recording a plat where required), deny the variance, or defer the item for more information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Zoning Appeals 6/12/25","oneSentenceSummary","A property owner identified in the packet as Mr. Mills asked the Sumner County Board of Zoning Appeals for variances to allow residential construction on an irregular, unplatted lot along Rade's Cove Road where steep topography, a creek buffer and septic placement limit the buildable area.","taxTitle","Sumner County, Tennessee","taxId",19115,"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},6200090,"Armstrongs request side‑yard setback variance to add 540‑sq‑ft addition at 1101 Woodrow Drive",716,89000,805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3819473-7abe44e6bf12c2b7d22016ef7d296cd5&start=89&end=805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3819473-7abe44e6bf12c2b7d22016ef7d296cd5/thumbnail_89000.jpg","/articles/6200090/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Armstrongs-request-sideyard-setback-variance-to-add-540sqft-addition-at-1101-Woodrow-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200090-130b9782f5b3f390c8de46b115977d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1777099694&Signature=K6IROOwNA7apY1aEQ22To33XPDc0Gt0qNjUNXitB4QJq~ikirn2b~wxr7mmZRnh5zP4eyjCxN4GUjDs5TslJ4V2xy4noSB~L6Wj3n4aAeqvcO4TGvpLfc5CGseJnPnYCABtl49bzU9sQmacmhTKY21EiwZoyafCZIRZu1ju~uwwK4DHhDaANZy3TRFDK4s~K25Oj02xJcbvuzjX8Z66VY5hTYw3uMGbx8XbhYXob6F~1LmPoF0z00g4cTDCLiLJpzKDbTVfA9VimcpGB23c0x1iCya2S~7a-an4rDl1~cTcnjktSpXERMYDiscQpccXlgVRS8QcTv3~qxq4WbzlWhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mickey and Whitney Armstrong requested a variance from Sumner County zoning rules to reduce the required side‑yard setback from 20 feet to 12 feet so they can build an about 540‑square‑foot addition to the primary dwelling at 1101 Woodrow Drive. Planning staff presented the request at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting and opened the matter for public hearing; no final vote was recorded at the meeting.

Planning staff said the property is in the Rural Preservation zoning district, where the side‑yard setback is 20 feet, and described a discrepancy between the recorded plat and a recent survey. \"The plat shows 1.27 acres, but when it was surveyed, it seems that there may have been some discrepancy…it is determined that the property is 0.85 acres,\" Planning staff said. Staff said the smaller surveyed area, and the location of an adjacent hatched flood‑plain area, have shortened the buildable area along the side yard and contribute to the hardship cited for the variance request.

Staff told the board the proposed addition would contain a bedroom, bathroom and closet and would be sited so it \"is in line with the existing house\" and would not be closer to the neighboring house than the existing structure. Planning staff also said the addition would not increase the property's nonconformity beyond the existing encroachment, and characterized the hardship as not self‑created, noting the subdivision and house date to the 1980s and that some lot lines are affected by later replats and flood‑plain delineation.

Planning staff reviewed the county's variance findings used to evaluate requests: whether a particular lot shape or topography produces a hardship distinct from a mere inconvenience; whether the hardship is unique to the lot and not broadly applicable across the zoning district; whether the variance authorizes only uses permitted by the zone; and whether the variance is the minimum needed to allow reasonable use. Staff said, based on the survey and the flood‑plain boundary, the Armstrong property meets those criteria and that the variance requested appears to be the minimum necessary to permit the proposed addition.

Staff presented example motions for the board: to find the county variance standards are met and approve the setback variance in accordance with the submitted plan for 1101 Woodrow Drive with conditions that all required zoning, building and land‑disturbance permits be obtained and that a plat amendment be recorded to correct the discrepancy; to deny the request; or to defer the item for one month to obtain additional information. The meeting record shows the item was opened for public hearing; the record does not show a board decision on the variance at that session.

The transcript shows the planning presentation emphasized that strict application of the zoning resolution would make it difficult to use the property as proposed and that no evidence was presented at the hearing indicating the variance would impair light, increase congestion, create public‑safety hazards or otherwise harm adjacent property owners. Planning staff also said the financial return to the owner is not a proper basis to grant a variance.

If the board later approves the variance, Planning staff said a plat amendment correcting the lot size discrepancy would need to be recorded and all required permits obtained before construction. The board’s next procedural step was to accept public comment on the matter during the hearing.","Mickey and Whitney Armstrong asked the Sumner County Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance to reduce the rural preservation side‑yard setback from 20 feet to 12 feet so they can build an approximately 540‑square‑foot addition at 1101 Woodrow Drive.","actionData","errors"]

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Owner of nonconforming Rade's Cove Road lot asks board for setbacks and lot‑size variance to allow home

Armstrongs request side‑yard setback variance to add 540‑sq‑ft addition at 1101 Woodrow Drive