Planning commission approves 20-foot access for 16-acre wetland parcel with conditions

The Lexington County Planning Commission on an unanimous vote approved a variance allowing an existing 20-foot flag-lot driveway to serve a 15.95-acre parcel owned by WJS Inc., represented in the meeting by Steve Hendricks.

Commissioners said the parcel is largely constrained by wetlands and that requiring a 50-foot ingress/egress would unduly restrict the owner—s ability to make productive use of the land. The motion approved a variance from the county—s access policy on the condition that deeded 20-foot access is retained from the cul-de-sac side and that access from the southeastern neighborhood also be recorded.

Commissioners and the applicant described the tract as primarily wetlands and not buildable under normal standards. Steve Hendricks, representing WJS Inc., told the commission the tract —is constrained by wetlands— and that earlier delineation work and topography indicated the property —could not be developed.— Planning staff confirmed the property has wetland layers on county maps but that a formal federal delineation was not completed because staff and the owner considered it unlikely the parcel would be developable.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about maintenance and emergency access should the area flood or trees fall across trails. Hendricks said basic, equipment-free access had been used previously for hand removal of blockages and that, if necessary, larger equipment could reach the parcel via the 20-foot corridor.

Several commissioners also pressed the applicant on plans for the two lots that would gain side-yard extensions if the variance were granted and on assurances that homeowners and the pump station adjacent to the cul-de-sac would be protected. Hendricks said he will coordinate deed restrictions and is prepared to work with the county and the town of Lexington on pump-station maintenance and aesthetic concerns.

The commission recorded the vote as unanimous in favor and approved the variance with the contingency that a 20-foot deeded access be retained on the north side of the property coming off the cul-de-sac and a deeded southeastern access from the adjacent neighborhood. The approval included direction that the owner coordinate with county staff on the precise deed language and any necessary easements for emergency or maintenance access.

The decision does not change federal or state wetland protections; the owner was instructed not to introduce fill and to maintain natural flow of on-site streams, consistent with county and core regulations.