[{"_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",6477690,"mediaKeyId","5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf","parentId",5711402,"title","Variance granted for 6‑foot fence at 113 East Woodlawn after decades of local use","audioSeconds",1178,"startMs",3202000,"endMs",4380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf&start=3202&end=4380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf/thumbnail_3202000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477690/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Variance-granted-for-6foot-fence-at-113-East-Woodlawn-after-decades-of-local-use","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477690-94e307ccb7aafa1cdde651fbcd6b4ee8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777282951&Signature=VJi-AQvXgaUlXDOtEpE~lwo7~6Cv4Gg0akNCxywURemZPqLVh7UXkIgaOODrVtDSegmeCLqBAgs5OF4YRzLT7tgGQYDYG17R4bjtFo01pciuhcIJ1kXDi-TjF6QvxqKDlG1B2V-6jT0UqgN-q0E0AZ-nr5MD97RPZkV0zYRPaYc44WRPZQVyZb~Pzt~K7CcRxf7JZm7TzmTx5v0SbEqZ6MjHmQK24sK5I7ySQDJWt9tk1UDzKnLyZdETVdS3nYa232aMjozTuGLyqgh1CGh7DtWWfaSA2ztnEf5UteAslNi78qCgLJOg83u5C74wtzEYx6381QihBetQAtF1F6gkzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of North Augusta Public Information, SC","date","2025-09-03T11:20:13Z","article","The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 2 approved a variance for a 6‑foot fence at 113 East Woodlawn Avenue, finding long‑standing use, neighbor support and safety considerations justified exception from the city’s 4‑foot front‑yard height limit.

Application ZV25-010 (filed under the name Charlene Begler in the agenda but presented in the hearing as Charlene Fagler) requested relief from Section 6.3.4.1 of the North Augusta Development Code. Staff recommended approval with two conditions: limit the increased height to the existing fence and allow repair, maintenance and replacement with similar design and materials if the fence is damaged or destroyed.

Staff noted the property shares a driveway with 115 East Woodlawn, and that tenants in the adjacent rental property had previously prompted the original fence installation around 2004 to provide privacy and reduce noise for the homeowners, who the applicant said are elderly (ages given as 89 and 91). The applicant explained the fence was removed briefly to replace an aging driveway and was replaced at the same height and location.

Multiple neighbors and the tenant at 115 voiced support at the hearing. Tenant Gerald McMillan said the fence “does provide me a little bit of privacy” and that coming in and out of the driveway “is no issue.” Other nearby residents who spoke — Raven Acosta Nobles, Elaine Ergo and Lane Bradford — described the fence as attractive and not creating problems.

Board members answered the ten variance criteria in the affirmative, including findings that an unnecessary hardship exists due to shared driveway configuration and nighttime noise historically associated with the rental next door, that extraordinary conditions exist on the parcel, and that granting the variance would not harm the public good or district character. The board approved the variance unanimously.

The variance is limited to the existing fence height; the board’s conditions allow future maintenance or replacement in kind but do not authorize a taller new fence than currently exists.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of North Augusta - BZA Meeting 9/2/25","oneSentenceSummary","The board granted a variance allowing a 6‑foot fence in the front‑yard setback at 113 East Woodlawn Avenue, citing longstanding use, neighbor support and safety/privacy reasons for elderly residents.","taxTitle","North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina","taxId",56877,"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},6477696,"BZA grants variance for 6‑foot fence at 540 Grant Avenue citing corner‑lot safety and privacy",1150,2045000,3195000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf&start=2045&end=3195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf/thumbnail_2045000.jpg","/articles/6477696/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/BZA-grants-variance-for-6foot-fence-at-540-Grant-Avenue-citing-cornerlot-safety-and-privacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477696-1252c5eb663b35cb8b89746f81357116/orig.mp4?Expires=1777282951&Signature=Zy5HvaibrhS4XuV5VWmz4dZhnvSvqXCLm4PIhcP~xjhIdmRCU0~9uX-zgd5P8QBzre0tKMqvhgm1mZNuG5fYlLrx~LCnwWQ7JfgHRXoW63PaEtdfTVwhJjufi4IRC29wEY1bUopW8DZ4SEJSJ0eHEOGIiA9Onk2vJYpsQ1ezHnVS7VLVbz6OMwbQ3kgiXerx52IeH-~~g8pgD2-xHz2Zg8C0PLGuz4znO4v0imzCNApbsPkD2lr2D8J-RDxPcTF2Wbm5cJ0utob61FHkqA9nUeICkxBfIubgh8Kh-C-a0m2fWbvzFxMxhn~73x4GlUSEBpyUmTuOTaqBvPzjDSRB9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 2 approved a variance allowing a 6‑foot fence to remain in the front‑yard setback at 540 Grant Avenue.

Application ZV25-009, filed by homeowner Timothy Thomas, sought relief from Article 6, Section 6.3.4.1 of the North Augusta Development Code, which generally limits fence height in front yards to 4 feet. The board found all ten tests the city uses for a variance were met and granted the request with two conditions: that the increased fence height be limited to its existing height and that the fence may be repaired, maintained and replaced with similar materials and design if damaged or destroyed.

Staff presented aerial photos and site images showing the property’s corner‑lot configuration and an in‑ground pool in the backyard; staff noted the fence had been in place previously and was replaced in the same location following hurricane damage. The staff analysis cited privacy and safety for grandchildren and a dog, visibility concerns arising from the corner lot and the limited backyard space as reasons supporting a variance.

Owner Timothy Thomas told the board the fence was installed originally around 2019 or 2020 and was replaced in the same footprint after storm damage. “We bought yeah. I haven't redone it, and then, we own the house next to it too… that's why we've got it up here for the safety of our grandkids and for our privacy,” Thomas said. He also said the fence was professionally installed.

Staff and the board discussed whether the prior fence was lawful and whether it was grandfathered; staff noted that if a fence was lawfully erected it could be considered a lawful nonconforming structure, but an unlawfully erected fence would not be entitled to conformity. The board nonetheless concluded that the parcel’s corner‑lot conditions and the demonstrated safety/privacy needs constituted an unnecessary hardship and exceptional conditions that differentiated the property from neighboring lots.

The board approved the variance unanimously by a show of hands. The staff‑recommended conditions recorded in the motion restrict the variance to the existing fence height and require repair/replacement with similar design and materials if damaged.

The record includes a supporting email from a neighbor — identified in the hearing as Linda Yolens McDonald — stating she had no objection to the fence.","The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing a 6‑foot fence in the front‑yard setback at 540 Grant Avenue, concluding special conditions on the corner lot and safety concerns justified the exception.",{"_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},6477700,"North Augusta BZA approves home‑based online retail business at 112 Mossy Oak Circle",1535,496000,2031000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf&start=496&end=2031","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711402-a1db77f31de004d974ba445e314347bf/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6477700/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/North-Augusta-BZA-approves-homebased-online-retail-business-at-112-Mossy-Oak-Circle","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477700-34ea98849650874b625356e29d45f127/orig.mp4?Expires=1777282951&Signature=ZENuUNJB8XYOBP6mpTA~bVIOf~v5jN~fat9qcryXoY2UvMlvHeYpxtx5z5Y~nhPyiUe7pweiJU6HdGqTdHKQQhd8RKK7bDl~75HRI4j6tMhiRbG48vPl78epDRgXkzs6F49ks8~djjTsSNYlehoD~HtTTsMd2q10ZgXbu5t14PgY91WAS3yL7UGWxdY0Qrrhfeyk7g2OTqQAKpqfkZIE9fOjNEpC5A0AFZFcJiBTyLMbO3l3gpahhBjQbXC53jKDLLSUwLUkF9rfXtRTjUdx2yjE0u0EXChpb01NSwL4FCGpQ9un~HnUUaQAYbUUrM4ODDd14jHX1l1145mGbQQRbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 2 granted a special exception allowing an online retail home occupation at 112 Mossy Oak Circle.

The board approved application ZE25-009 by Justin Kersey to operate an online resale business from a bedroom in a single‑family house, finding the operation met the city’s home‑occupation criteria and adding three conditions: no clients or customers may visit the property; no exterior signage or structural alterations for business purposes; and all shipping and delivery must be limited to standard residential mail and parcel services (no large commercial vehicles).

City staff described the proposal as a low‑impact, online retail operation with no storefront or customer visits. Staff said the use meets the North Augusta Development Code standards for home occupations (Article 5, Section 5.3.7), including residential scale, negligible traffic impact and no exterior changes. The staff presentation noted the applicant would store merchandise indoors, take photographs in a room or under a porch and ship items via USPS or common carriers.

Applicant Justin Kersey told the board he stores inventory in “about 13 or so totes” in a room and conducts all sales online. “I run my business out of my little office room, and everything is stored in about 13 or so totes in my room. I do all my pictures in my room. Everything I sell is online,” Kersey said.

A neighborhood email submitted earlier that day from Melinda Collins raised concerns about traffic, parking and potential future growth of the business. Staff and the applicant said the business model would produce only normal residential parcel pickups. The code’s home‑occupation rules state a home occupation expected to generate more than 10 business trips per day requires special review; staff concluded the proposed use would not reach that threshold.

The board voted unanimously to grant the special exception with the three staff conditions; the motion was seconded and approved by a show of hands.

The decision allows Kersey to continue operating from the residence under the stated conditions; the board record notes that accessory buildings are allowed by right within size limits and that any future accessory building would be subject to the city’s accessory‑building square‑foot limits.","The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special exception for an online retail home occupation run by Justin Kersey at 112 Mossy Oak Circle, imposing conditions that prohibit on‑site customers, exterior signage, and large commercial deliveries.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Variance granted for 6‑foot fence at 113 East Woodlawn after decades of local use

BZA grants variance for 6‑foot fence at 540 Grant Avenue citing corner‑lot safety and privacy

North Augusta BZA approves home‑based online retail business at 112 Mossy Oak Circle