The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 30 approved a development-standard variance allowing a primary dwelling to be built across the center line of two adjoining lots in Foxcliff Estates South.

Applicant Elizabeth Sarchit told the board she and her husband had purchased the two side-by-side lots and want to place the home in the middle of the lots to find a level building site and to give more room and privacy to adjacent neighbors. "We plan to build a single family home in the middle of two lots which will allow for more privacy for both us and the adjacent neighbors," Sarchit said, reading from the application.

The application includes a letter from the neighborhood association’s board of directors supporting the variance, and the health department and the county surveyor offered no objections. Staff recommended approval, saying the applicant met the three statutory findings required for a development-standard variance under the Unified Development Ordinance (listed in the record as sections 2.1–2.3).

Staff and the applicant told the board the proposed location is the most level placement because of the slope of the land and would be well within applicable setbacks. The application stated the change "will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare" and that the house placement should not adversely affect adjacent property values.

A board member said the request was a "common-sense approach" given conditions in that area. A motion to approve D-24-20 based on the applicant’s stated findings of fact passed by voice vote; a board member seconded the motion and the chair announced approval.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public record; the minutes reflect the motion carried and the variance was approved.

The board attorney swore in those testifying at the start of the meeting, and there were no other remonstrators who spoke on this petition.