Walker County commissioners approve land-use variance for family farm, fund courthouse testing and storage building; hear brownfields report and animal-voucher,

The Walker County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 25 in Lafayette approved a conditional variance allowing a local farmer to split a parcel for a family member, voted to move forward on multiple county contracts and purchase orders including environmental testing at the courthouse, and heard progress reports on EPA-funded brownfields assessments and the county's animal spay-and-neuter voucher program.

A divided but ultimately unanimous board approved a conditional variance for property owner Paul Lemming to divide roughly 2.98 acres from a larger tract, with a six-month condition that he apply to rezone the new parcel from A-1 (agriculture) to RA (residential-agriculture). Lemming spoke to the board about keeping the land in the family so his niece could return to help with their cow-calf operation; after extended discussion about precedent for future subdivisions in the neighborhood the board tied the variance to a required rezoning application.

"If they're willing to grant you this variance," county planning staff told Lemming during the meeting, "the recommendation is that the board grant the variance on the contingency that he come back before this board for residential-ag zoning for the 2.98-acre parcel." The board voted in favor after Commissioner Wilson amended the original motion to include the six-month rezoning requirement; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 0-03-24 (amend Chapter 4 of Walker County Code, animal code): motion to table one month to correct age-limit language to match state law — TABLED to November. (Motion seconded by Commissioner Hart; voice vote passed.) - Conditional variance, Paul Lemming (2740 Old Mill Springs Road): conditional variance granted for up to six months on the condition that Lemming apply to rezone the new 2.98-acre parcel to RA — APPROVED. (Motion: Commissioner Wilson; second: Commissioner Blakemore; voice vote.) - Rezone, Burke property (440/442 Durham Road): planning commission recommended approval — REZONED to RA — APPROVED. (Motion: Commissioner Blakemore; second: Commissioner Wilson; voice vote.) - Conditional use variance, Katie Broom (1218 Hogjail Road): approved with condition that the variance does not run with the land if sold — APPROVED. (Motion: Commissioner Blakemore; second: Commissioner Askew; voice vote.) - Walker County Board of Education variance (12587 N. Hwy. 27): board approved with a 25-foot vegetative buffer along the rear (west) property line — APPROVED. (Motion: Commissioner Wilson; second: Commissioner Blakemore; voice vote.) - Variance, Blake Moore (1106 Glentana Street): APPROVED (Commissioner Moore abstained as noted). (Motion: Commissioner Wilson; second:…