Adams County officials voted to approve a variance allowing a reduced setback from the road for an addition at 3487 West Third Court in the Town of Jackson.

The request, filed for property owned by Matthew Murphy, asked for relief from a 30-foot setback measured from the public road right-of-way to permit an addition that would otherwise fall inside that required buffer. A county staff member opened the hearing by describing the request as a variance under “sections 396-60(a)(6) of the Adams County Weather and Habitat Protection Ordinance and 405-34(e)(6) of the Adams County Comprehensive Zoning” and said the town of Jackson had no objection.

Neighbors who live on or near West Third Court spoke in favor during the public-comment period. Steven Robin Fiorentino, who said he owns property at 343 Freedom Road and whose family has been a neighbor to the Murphys since 1967, said the expansion appeared “responsible” and not a safety concern. “We hope that you'll allow the family to expand their property,” Fiorentino told the panel. Jen DeFranco, who said she lives at 3498 West Third Court, said the DeFranco family also supported the proposal. Mark Hippler, who identified himself as living at 342 Freedom Road, said he had no objections.

Board members discussed technical details on the submitted drawings, noting that much of the existing house and its garage already sit inside the seawater/ordinary high-waterline and setback patterns created over decades. A county representative explained that the property is largely within the 75-foot waterfront setback as well as the 30-foot road setback in places; the proposed addition was described in the hearing as an expansion to add bedrooms to meet current family needs. One participant estimated the proposed addition at roughly 20 by 20 feet based on the plans on file, and the applicant’s representative said the existing deck and a small stone firepit would not be affected.

Board members considered whether the situation met the legal standard for hardship and reasonable use. A board member moved to grant the variance on the basis of hardship and reasonable use; another member seconded the motion. The panel then held a roll-call vote and approved the variance, with four votes in favor and no votes against.

The board did not impose additional conditions beyond the variance approval noted on the record, and staff told the applicant to proceed with permitting through the county offices. The town of Jackson’s lack of objection to the reduced setback was entered into the record.

Why it matters: the decision allows the Murphys to add livable space closer to the town road than typically permitted in Adams County’s zoning and habitat-protection ordinances. The board cited limited alternative locations on the lot and changing family needs as the basis for the hardship finding. Neighbors who spoke in favor emphasized that the addition would not materially change beach access or road safety as they experience it.

Next steps: county staff indicated the applicant must follow normal permitting procedures following the variance approval.