The Paradise Town Advisory Board voted July 29 to deny a request for development-standard waivers for accessory structures at a single-family property on North Spanish Armada Road in Paradise.

The applicant, Dennis Holmer, told the board he and his wife have lived at the address for 49 years and described multiple additions to their backyard, including a 10,000-gallon pool and shade structures. "We've lived there for 49 years," Holmer said. He described a 10-by-12 gazebo, a storage shed attached to the gazebo and a pool house he said was installed in 1996.

The board said the structures lacked required permits and, where they extend above the separating wall, do not meet setback rules. Board member Susan questioned the absence of permits and emphasized the building-permit requirement. "You have to have it for the shed itself, for the shade structure itself, not just the electrical...You needed a permit," Susan said. She recommended denial and said the applicant must either obtain permits and meet setbacks or remove structures that exceed allowable limits.

Neighbors had raised concerns about lighting, visibility over the wall and safety. The board repeatedly framed its review narrowly: it would not rule on yard decoration or landscaping, only on required separations, setbacks and permitting. The board directed that the item move forward to the planning commission for a final determination; members advised Holmer to try to resolve lighting concerns with neighbors before that hearing. The board set the planning commission hearing for Aug. 19.

Action taken was a formal motion to deny the waiver request; the motion carried. The applicant was advised that, even if the board allowed reduced setbacks, building- and electrical-permit approvals by the county building department would still be required.

The denial means Holmer must either remove or relocate structures that fail to meet county setbacks or pursue permits and any necessary variances at the planning commission hearing on Aug. 19. The board recommended Holmer coordinate with neighbors about lighting and other nuisance concerns before that hearing.