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Board grants variance to allow existing home-based salon in Mechanicsville
Summary
The Board of Appeals approved a variance to allow a 283-square-foot salon area at the Village Hair Boutique, exceeding the 200-square-foot home-occupation limit; staff and neighbors supported the request as an oversight stemming from a permitted garage reconfiguration.
The St. Mary's County Board of Appeals on April 14 approved a variance allowing the Village Hair Boutique to retain a 283-square-foot salon area within the first floor of a newly permitted attached garage in Mechanicsville, exceeding the 200-square-foot home-occupation limit in the residential low-density district.
Land Use staff explained the homeowners, John and Lindsey DePompa, obtained a building permit in June 2010 for a two-story attached garage with living space above. After construction, the lower level was partitioned with a load-bearing wall so one side functions as a hair salon (283 square feet) with an exterior entrance and a handicap restroom; the other side remains garage/storage. The applicants did not realize a home-occupation permit and a use-and-occupancy review were required until applying for a salon license.
Staff concluded the applicants face a practical difficulty because the partition is load bearing and cannot be reconfigured to bring the salon area under the 200-square-foot limit without abandoning the business or removing the permitted structure. Staff recommended approval, noting the salon’s footprint does not outwardly change the garage’s exterior appearance and does not adversely affect adjoining properties. A neighbor and a public commenter spoke in support of the applicants.
The board found the standards for granting a variance under Section 51.30.116 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance were met and approved the request; the motion included adoption of paragraphs 1, 4 and 5 of section 5 of the staff report as findings of fact. Staff will prepare the board’s order within 60 days; a 30-day appeal period follows the order’s signature.
The decision applies to VAAP 11-28 (Village Hair Boutique) at 28055 Old Village Road in Mechanicsville.
