Fannin County commissioners approve garage setback variance pending neighbor consent

The Fannin County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a setback variance for Darcy and Carrie Bloodworth to build a two‑car garage near Overlook Drive, contingent on written confirmation from an adjacent property owner.

Commissioners said the structure would sit about 10 feet from the north property line; neighbors on the opposite side of the lot were noted as being close to the proposed structure. The board made approval conditional on a notarized letter or an emailed, notarized consent from the neighbor; the applicant said she would secure the neighbor’s approval and deliver it to the chairman as quickly as possible.

Board members described a longstanding local practice of seeking neighbor sign‑off when proposed buildings come within roughly 15 feet of a lot line. Commissioner comments noted concerns that a future sale of an adjacent parcel could create disputes if a waiver were only verbal. The applicant told the board she had a time constraint from the building supplier and asked for immediate approval; the board declined to approve without written confirmation, but asked the applicant to get the neighbor on the phone immediately and deliver the notarized consent to the chairman within days.

The board’s motion was to approve the variance pending receipt of the notarized neighbor consent; the motion passed without recorded objection. No formal ordinance or state statute was cited during the discussion.

The board asked staff to file the neighbor consent in the variance file once received; commissioners said they would call the applicant when the document arrived and that the county would process the variance promptly after the notarized consent was submitted.