Planning commission approves variance to allow two-acre parcel on Lenore Drive
October 16, 2025 | Lexington County, South Carolina
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The Lexington County Planning Commission voted to approve a variance that allows a property owner to subdivide a 12.77-acre parcel on Lenore Drive and establish a two-acre parcel around an existing mobile home.
The commission’s approval, made by motion and second during the meeting, included a stipulation that any further subdivision on Lenore Drive must return to the planning commission for review.
The variance petitioners were identified in the meeting materials as Kenneth Smith (trustee) and Kenda Sue Stillwell; the applicant who spoke at the microphone identified herself as Linda Stillwell and said the mobile home currently on the property is occupied by her daughter and two grandchildren. “My daughter and 2 grandchildren live there,” Stillwell said during questioning. She told the commission she bought the property in December and placed the mobile home there in August so family members could live nearby.
Planning staff explained the request was driven by a lender requirement: banks would not finance a site-built house on the parcel while a mobile home remained on the same tax map number (TMS). Staff noted a prior road‑maintenance agreement for Lenore Drive, recorded in 2000 (record book cited in staff materials), allows further subdivision as long as resultant parcels are two acres or larger.
Commissioners questioned the driveway width and safety for large vehicles. One commissioner said the road “was extremely narrow” in places and asked how a garbage truck could reach properties farther down the private road. Planning staff responded the driving surface is wider at the beginning and narrows toward the properties and that previous approvals in 1990 and 2000 carried stipulations requiring widening and updates to the road maintenance agreement.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the variance with the condition that any further subdividing on Lenore Drive come back to planning commission; a second followed. Roll-call responses recorded on the transcript included affirmative votes from Commissioner Price, Commissioner Shealy, Commissioner Pike, Commissioner Campbell, Vice Chairman Frost and Chairwoman Mitchell. The motion carried and the variance was approved.
The commission record and staff packet note that Lenore Drive would become the eleventh lot using that private road for access if the subdivision proceeds and that, per the original road maintenance agreement, maintenance costs are shared by property owners. The planning commission’s approval does not itself change the recorded road‑maintenance agreement or state whether additional physical improvements to the road must be completed before any building permits are issued.
The planning commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.
The commission’s approval, made by motion and second during the meeting, included a stipulation that any further subdivision on Lenore Drive must return to the planning commission for review.
The variance petitioners were identified in the meeting materials as Kenneth Smith (trustee) and Kenda Sue Stillwell; the applicant who spoke at the microphone identified herself as Linda Stillwell and said the mobile home currently on the property is occupied by her daughter and two grandchildren. “My daughter and 2 grandchildren live there,” Stillwell said during questioning. She told the commission she bought the property in December and placed the mobile home there in August so family members could live nearby.
Planning staff explained the request was driven by a lender requirement: banks would not finance a site-built house on the parcel while a mobile home remained on the same tax map number (TMS). Staff noted a prior road‑maintenance agreement for Lenore Drive, recorded in 2000 (record book cited in staff materials), allows further subdivision as long as resultant parcels are two acres or larger.
Commissioners questioned the driveway width and safety for large vehicles. One commissioner said the road “was extremely narrow” in places and asked how a garbage truck could reach properties farther down the private road. Planning staff responded the driving surface is wider at the beginning and narrows toward the properties and that previous approvals in 1990 and 2000 carried stipulations requiring widening and updates to the road maintenance agreement.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the variance with the condition that any further subdividing on Lenore Drive come back to planning commission; a second followed. Roll-call responses recorded on the transcript included affirmative votes from Commissioner Price, Commissioner Shealy, Commissioner Pike, Commissioner Campbell, Vice Chairman Frost and Chairwoman Mitchell. The motion carried and the variance was approved.
The commission record and staff packet note that Lenore Drive would become the eleventh lot using that private road for access if the subdivision proceeds and that, per the original road maintenance agreement, maintenance costs are shared by property owners. The planning commission’s approval does not itself change the recorded road‑maintenance agreement or state whether additional physical improvements to the road must be completed before any building permits are issued.
The planning commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.
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