Oconee County board approves setback variance for Seneca garage at 227 Snow Creek Road

SENECA, S.C. — The Oconee County Board of Zoning Appeals on May 29 unanimously approved a variance (VA25000003) allowing a 3-foot reduction to the side setback and a 7-foot reduction to the rear setback for a proposed metal garage at 227 Snow Creek Road.

The board made affirmative findings on all four required criteria and voted to approve the variance after hearing from the applicant and county staff. The applicant, Taylor Henry, told the board he sought the setback reductions so the garage would align with an existing driveway and to avoid potential water issues at the back corner of his house. "If I was to place the proposed garage within the existing setbacks, it would push the garage to the rear side of my house and not properly align it with the existing driveway," Henry said. He added the building would house "1 vehicle and then lawn equipment" and that he had a neighbor's signed letter of support that was included in his packet: "I got a signed letter for it. That's included in the packet."

A staff member described the request as "pretty standard," noting that the typical setbacks for the property are 10 feet in the rear and 5 feet on the side and that the packet included photos and neighbor support on the last page. The board proceeded through the board's required four-question deliberation process, asking whether extraordinary and exceptional conditions existed for the parcel, whether those conditions were unique to the parcel, whether strict application of the chapter would unreasonably restrict use, and whether the variance would harm adjacent uses or the character of the district. For each question the board recorded an affirmative motion and the vote was unanimous. The board then voted to approve the proposed variance based on the evidence presented.

The variance application was identified in the meeting as VA25000003 for property referenced TMS 291-00-047. The applicant described the structure as a metal garage and said placing it within the required setbacks would limit access and could cause drainage problems. The staff member reiterated that documentation in the applicant's packet included a neighbor support letter and additional photos.

After the board's approval, the meeting moved to adjournment. The transcript indicates the applicant acknowledged a need to sign paperwork or consent: "We're gonna have to consent." No further conditions, permit numbers, or administrative appeal deadlines were stated on the record during this item.