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Glynn County approves 7-foot side-yard variance for deck at 241 Georgia Street
Summary
The Glynn County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 7 granted a variance reducing the required corner-lot side setback from 10 feet to 7 feet for an existing deck at 241 Georgia Street in Saint Simons, and ordered removal of any structure beyond that line.
Glynn County commissioners on Aug. 7 approved a variance allowing an existing deck at 241 Georgia Street, Saint Simons, to remain at a 7-foot side-yard setback instead of the 10 feet required for a corner lot.
The action followed a public hearing on an appeal of the Board of Appeals’ June 12, 2025, denial of Case ZV-25-18. The Board of Appeals had denied the owner’s original request to reduce the setback to zero. Planning and Zoning Director Stephanie Leaf told commissioners the deck was built without a permit and county staff documented the encroachment earlier this year; the building official had raised concerns about portions of the construction during the Board of Appeals review.
The owner, Frank Lynch, appeared at the county meeting and said he initially requested a variance to reduce the setback to zero, then sought a smaller encroachment after the appeals board denied the request. Lynch disputed some of the building official’s descriptions of the structure in written material he submitted and told commissioners the deck supports are 6-by-6 posts and that carriage bolts, not lag bolts, were used to attach the deck to the house.
No speakers opposed the appeal at the hearing; an adjacent property owner, Richard Altman, filed written comments that were included in the record. Commissioners discussed whether construction materials and code compliance were within the board’s scope; one commissioner noted building-code and structural questions are within the building official’s authority and recommended the owner work with county staff and a qualified contractor.
A motion was offered and seconded to grant the variance to a 7-foot setback from Fourth Avenue (the 10-foot corner-lot requirement) and to require removal of any structure that exceeds the approved setback. The motion passed.
Discussion versus decision: commissioners recorded concerns and clarified that structural and code compliance issues remain under the building official’s review and permitting process; the board’s action was a variance to the setback only. The owner is required to bring the deck into the approved 7-foot setback and to address any outstanding building-code corrections identified by county staff.
The appeal record shows the Board of Appeals denied the original variance request on June 12, 2025 (4–0 with one member absent). The county planning office documented the permitless work in May 2025 when staff first observed the deck encroaching to the property line. Commissioners closed the public hearing after the owner’s remarks and took the variance motion up immediately.
Next steps: the county’s building department will determine any required corrections to meet building-code standards and will enforce removal of structures that exceed the approved 7-foot setback. The owner may be subject to permitting and inspection requirements to complete the work to bring the deck into compliance.
