The Cherokee County Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing on August 14, 2025, to discuss a variance request related to the county's floodplain ordinance. The applicant, Mr. Harriman, is seeking permission to use an existing gravel driveway for access to his proposed home, which is currently under construction on a 26.77-acre property. The driveway does not meet the ordinance requirement of being at least three feet above the base flood elevation (BFE) or one foot above future conditions elevation.

The engineering department previously denied the request to utilize the existing driveway, citing that it would need to be elevated to approximately 9.92 feet to comply with the floodplain ordinance. This elevation change would require significant engineering work, including grading and compensatory mitigation, which the applicant argues would be costly and potentially harmful to the floodplain's natural state.

During the hearing, Mr. Harriman's representative argued that the existing driveway has been used for many years without causing flooding issues and that raising it could create a dam effect, increasing flood risks rather than mitigating them. They emphasized that the driveway is essential for access to the home and that alternative access routes have been deemed impractical.

Support for the variance was voiced by a neighbor, Garth Veil, who highlighted the unique challenges of the property and expressed confidence in the low risk of flooding in the area. Veil urged the board to consider the request as a means of progress for the community rather than a disregard for safety regulations.

The board is now tasked with evaluating the variance request based on criteria that include the potential for exceptional hardship and the impact on public safety and flood heights. The outcome of this hearing could set a precedent for future variance requests in floodplain areas within Cherokee County.