Madison County BZA denies variance for Ridgeview Road pole barn

The Madison County Board of Zoning Appeals denied a variance request from Matthew Fant that would have allowed a recently built three-sided pole barn at 3244 Ridgeview Road (Madison County tax map 30-2-162) to remain inside required front and side setbacks.

The variance would have reduced the front setback from 100 feet to 34 feet and the side setback from 35 feet to 13 feet. Board members voted to deny the request after staff testimony that the hardship was self-imposed and conflicting testimony about whether concrete had been poured after county staff first visited the site.

The vote matters because the structure was built without a zoning permit and the board’s decision requires the property owner either to remove or relocate the…