Graham County Board of Adjustment approves 3‑foot side‑setback variance for attached garage

The Graham County Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance allowing a property owner to construct an attached garage with a 3‑foot side setback from the west property line instead of the county’s 10‑foot side setback for structures attached to a livable residence.

Mark Kavanaugh, Graham County building inspector and zoning enforcement officer, opened the case and explained the legal basis for the hearing: the board may grant variances when strict application of the land‑use ordinance would cause unnecessary hardship given a property’s particular conditions. "My name is Mark Kavanaugh. I know I sent you guys all the emails. I'm a building inspector plus the zoning enforcement officer for Graham County," he told the board when he presented the request and the county’s position.

The property owner, identified in the hearing as Eric Ornelas, described the proposal as an addition to an existing concrete pad behind his home to house vehicles and recreation equipment in a three‑bay garage that would match his house’s exterior. Ornelas said the pad was engineered for a future structure and that the proposed addition would replace temporary storage units he currently uses. He told the…