Lancaster County BZA approves variance for Bass property after septic-location dispute

At a meeting of the Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals (date not specified), the board approved a variance permitting a detached garage at 1334 Pfeiffer Road in Kings Mountain for applicant Harold Bass by a vote of 2–0 with one abstention.

The variance request arose because the proposed garage would conflict with the location of a drain field and septic components that, according to the applicant and a contractor, lie forward of the house and limit buildable area. April Williams, Lancaster County planning director, told the board the item had been heard previously and that staff had no additional material to add to the record: "This item was before you for the public hearing and the staff presentation part of the hearing at the February 11 meeting. At this time we have nothing else material to add to this." April Williams is listed in the public record as planning director for Lancaster County.

Nut graf: The board considered the four standard variance criteria and concluded the conditions affecting the Bass parcel—primarily the location of septic infrastructure and prior site development—warranted a variance. The applicant said state agency records for the property's septic system could not be located and that a private contractor had uncovered the septic tank during grading work, producing a hand-drawn sketch of perceived tank and field locations.

Discussion and facts: Harold Bass, the applicant, told the board he had tried to find official septic records through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and in closing documents from the property's 2018 purchase but found none: "There are no records that she can find for that property, for the septic system. They only keep records for 5 years, and so that house was built in 1983." Bass said a contractor, Carlos Sanchez of Custom Grading LLC, struck and repaired a septic tank lid while grading and provided a signed, unsigned-by-notary letter and a rough sketch indicating the tank is to the front-right of the house and the drain field extends toward the west side.

Board members discussed practical limits on buildable area for the parcel, which the applicant and one board member described as about 1.11 acres and already developed with structures and improvements. Mark Bolden, a board member, said he supported allowing the owner the same reasonable building opportunities as neighbors: "I feel that a person ... should be able to build what others of similar have and so forth." The board also asked whether the proposed two-story garage would be used for occupancy; the applicant and staff indicated the second floor was intended for storage rather than habitation.

The board reviewed the four variance criteria on the record. After discussion, the board concluded the criteria were met and moved to approve the variance. The motion passed by a recorded tally of yes 2, no 0, abstain 1. The meeting record does not specify which member cast the abstention.

Context and next steps: Board staff noted that the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and proposed UDO changes were relevant background for future deliberations, and staff said the BZA would be invited to review draft UDO revisions as they approach final drafts. The planning department will document the variance and finalize the permitting steps for the applicant.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve meeting agenda: approved 3–0. - Motion to approve minutes (Feb. 4, 2025): approved 2–0 (one board member corrected a misspelling in the record before the vote). - Motion to approve minutes (Feb. 11, 2025): approved 2–0 with 1 abstention. - Variance 2024-0108 (Bass), request to allow detached garage: approved, yes 2, no 0, abstain 1.

Ending: The board had no further public hearing items and moved on to a staff-led review of proposed rules of procedure to be returned for formal review at the next meeting.