St. Mary’s County board approves variance to allow home construction in critical-area buffer

The St. Mary’s County Board of Zoning Appeals on April 10, 2014, voted unanimously to approve a variance allowing Robert and Brenda Grant to disturb the county’s critical-area buffer to construct a single-family dwelling and appurtenances on a 1.6-acre lot at 25905 Whiskey Creek Road in Hollywood.

The variance was sought from “section 71.8 0.3 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance,” staff told the board during the hearing. Ms. Shelley, the county zoning staff member who presented the report, said the lot is a grandfathered parcel recorded before the county adopted critical-area regulations in December 1985 and is “essentially fully wooded at approximately 97%.” She added the parcel is constrained by steep slopes, highly erodible soils and shoreline changes along Saint Thomas Creek, and that the proposed house location is “well above the slopes and…