Hardin County hears variance request for Silsbee property built below county’s 1-foot freeboard

Hardin County Commissioners Court on May 13, 2025, held a public hearing on a request by Arthur Yarden for a variance from county elevation requirements for property at 3495 Highway 327 in Silsbee.

The request concerns a house already under construction whose finished floor the county—s staff said sits roughly 0.5 foot below the county—s one-foot freeboard requirement (a local standard above FEMA base flood elevation). Commissioner Cooper said the structure is above FEMA—s base flood elevation but below the county—s higher one-foot freeboard and recommended allowing the variance because the house is already built and awaiting an electrical permit. The county attorney recommended issuing a written warning and adding documentation to the file to protect the county should future…