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Zoning board denies requests for two 50-foot narrow lots on private Crescentwood Road after heavy neighborhood opposition
Summary
The board voted to deny two variances that would have cut setbacks to allow homes on 50-foot-wide lots on Crescentwood Road, citing private-road maintenance, drainage concerns and strong neighborhood opposition.
The Santa Rosa County Zoning Board denied two variance requests that would have allowed single-family residences on 50-foot-wide parcels along Crescentwood Road after repeated public opposition and prolonged discussion about private-road access and drainage.
Applicant Ron Ferry Villavicencio said he bought the narrow lots to build homes for family members, telling the board, "we need this variance to... build a couple houses for my daughters." Villavicencio said the goal was to provide affordable homes and to "enhance the community."
Neighbors nearly filled the public comment period with objections. Terry Akins, who said he lives on Crescentwood, urged the board to table the matter and cited costs of maintaining the private road: "If there's homes going to get built on here, then where is this money going to come from?" Other residents raised concerns about flooding, private easements crossing properties, loss of privacy, wildlife and property values.
Board and staff placed technical questions on the record: staff noted the parcels are narrow, historically platted sliver lots dating to the 1940s and that setbacks on 50-foot lots would consume nearly the entire buildable footprint. Staff also said that the parcels are buildable only on a grandfathered basis, but modern stormwater and frontage rules make single-family construction on such narrow lots difficult without substantial grading and drainage plans.
After extended discussion the board voted to deny the variances. A motion to deny carried without recorded objection; board members cited the thin lot depth, private-road maintenance and unresolved stormwater and access issues as primary reasons for denial.
The decision is advisory; applicants may address engineering and access issues and seek reconsideration or appeal at a later hearing.
Votes at a glance • Cases 2024-81 V and 2024-82 V (Crescentwood narrow-lot variances): Denied by the zoning board; primary concerns were private-road maintenance, drainage and loss of neighborhood character.
