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York County Zoning Board approves variance to convert Sutton Road house into landscaping office
Summary
The York County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing property owner Nate Negron to reuse an existing residence located about 10 feet from the lot line as an office in a recently rezoned Light Industrial area; staff recommended approval and the board found the four variance criteria met.
The York County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance (case Z25-5) that allows property owner Nate Negron to reuse an existing residential structure as an office for a landscaping business on Sutton Road. The structure is located about 10 feet from the lot line; Light Industrial zoning requires a 30-foot side setback. Staff recommended approval after evaluating the four variance criteria, and the board voted to grant the request.
Staff told the board the subject property was originally developed for residential use and later rezoned to Light Industrial. The parcel that contains the structure is roughly one acre and the applicant proposes combining it with an adjacent two-acre Light Industrial parcel to the north; staff said the combined parcel would remove the lot-line nonconformity. Staff also reported a precedent variance had been granted previously for a structure on a nearby lot and concluded that, because the building predates the industrial zoning and would be put to active low-impact use as an office, the four variance findings were satisfied and the application should be approved.
Applicant Nate Negron told the board he purchased the two-acre Light Industrial parcel to operate his landscaping business and later acquired the one-acre parcel to expand. Negron described prior improvements he has made to bring stability to the area and said he intends to upfit — not demolish — the existing house for office use, including required HVAC work and interior improvements. “I appreciate your consideration,” Negron said, describing plans to keep development low-impact and to maintain existing gravel parking on the original parcel rather than pave new lots.
Board discussion focused on the practicalities of reuse, the parcel combination, and precedent. One board member said, “I think this one is actually a really good case for a variance,” and the motion to approve carried. The board did not attach an additional condition requiring immediate lot combination, though staff noted combining the lots would resolve the underlying lot-line nonconformity.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve variance Z25-5 — motion made and seconded; motion passed (board indicated approval by raised hands).
