Putnam County board approves setback variance to retain sheds at Satsuma property

The Putnam County Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 7-0 to approve a variance allowing William and Terry Duke to retain two existing sheds at 108 Edgewater Road in Satsuma, Florida.

Planning staff recommended the variance to avoid code-enforcement consequences for structures that, staff said, were installed before the Dukes purchased the property. Michael Graves of Planning and Development Services told the board the property is 0.28 acres, zoned Residential 2 with a future land-use designation of agriculture, and is Lot 75 of the Saint Johns Riverside Estates River Oaks subdivision, where most lots are 65 feet wide and therefore nonconforming to the district’s width standard.

The variance reduces the side setback from 10 feet to 2 feet (an 8-foot reduction) and reduces the waterfront setback from 25 feet to 20 feet (a 5-foot reduction) to allow two existing sheds to remain. Graves said an active code-enforcement case exists for the property and that staff’s written recommendation was approval. “Staff finds that the requested variance meets the majority of the criteria for issuance of a variance in LDC section 40 five-eight 33, and staff gives a recommendation of approval,” Graves said while presenting aerials, zoning and FEMA flood-zone information.

An objection letter from neighbor David Williams of 112 Edgewater Road was read into the record by Graves. The letter argued the sheds sit close to a wooden fence, cause heavy runoff that fosters dense vegetation that cannot be maintained, and are attracting rodents and predators. As the letter read aloud put it: “The rodents are attracting predators to the area such as alligators and snakes [—] hazards to people and pets. The shed should be moved to the proper distance required by zoning or removed.”

Board members disclosed a site visit and limited ex parte communications. Hunter Wingleman said he informed the applicant he planned to visit the property and gain access beyond the roadway, and that the conversation did not cover hearing arguments and would not affect his impartiality. The applicants declined to speak at the hearing.

A board member moved to approve the requested variance “as a NESA criteria for variance as required by section 45 8 33 of the Putnam County Land Development Code” and authorized the chair to sign the final order; the motion was seconded and carried by a voice vote of 7-0. The chair noted the decision is a final order that can be appealed to circuit court within 30 days and urged the applicants to work with staff on any follow-up issues.

Clarifying details recorded in the hearing: the parcel size is approximately 0.28 acres; the lot width is about 65 feet; the requested reductions are 8 feet (side setback) and 5 feet (waterfront setback); staff said the sheds predated the current owners and no permits were found for the earlier installation. The objection cited rodent activity, vegetation from roof runoff, and presence of predators (alligators and snakes) as neighborhood hazards.