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Board approves Parsons’ small deck variance after staff sign-offs
Summary
The Board of Appeals unanimously approved a variance letting James and Jean Parsons add a 146-square-foot deck within the 100-foot critical-area buffer at 43085 Island View in Hollywood, with a 3:1 mitigation requirement and a buffer-management plan required before permits.
The Saint Mary's County Board of Appeals on June 12 approved variance application VAAP 25-0306 to allow a 146-square-foot deck at 43085 Island View in Hollywood inside the 100-foot critical-area buffer.
Department staff reported the lot is mostly encompassed by the 100-foot buffer, that the site has highly erodible soils and slopes greater than 15 percent, and that the project is otherwise approved for zoning and flood-plain requirements. The health department had approved the plan, and staff said the project is exempt from soil-conservation and stormwater-management review because it proposes less than 5,000 square feet of soil disturbance.
Counsel for the applicants told the board the deck was modest and that the applicants will mitigate the permanent disturbance at the required 3:1 ratio and complete a buffer-management plan and planning agreement prior to issuance of a building permit. James Parsons, who spoke under oath, said the cinder blocks shown in photos are an old, disused artesian well that will be covered before construction; he said the deck will use pressure-treated lumber with recessed steps down to grade.
Board members said the request appeared modest and reasonable given the lot’s constraints. There was one written comment in support on file and one emailed neighbor letter delivered to staff that the board said it had received.
A motion to approve the variance was made and seconded; the board recorded unanimous approval. Staff will prepare an order reflecting the decision for the board to sign within 60 days; a 30-day appeal period follows the signing.
