The Prince George's County Board of Appeals approved variances on Sept. 24 to validate existing lot conditions and allow a second driveway at 6506 Old Sandy Spring Road in Laurel.

The board granted the petitioners, Walter Charles Berger and Katie Megan Berger, variances including relief from net lot area and lot-width standards and a waiver of the parking-area location requirement so the couple may obtain a building permit to repair an existing 11-by-26-foot driveway and construct a proposed 12-by-20-foot driveway. Vice Chair Johnston moved to approve V-40-25; Member Stanton seconded. The motion passed, 3-0.

The Ber ...ers told the board their property is functionally limited compared with neighboring lots. "I drive a tow truck, a commercial vehicle, so I have to be in the driveway," Walter Berger said, explaining the safety concern of on-street parking. He and Katie Berger said their lot currently accommodates only a one-car driveway while nearby homes have two-car driveways.

Vice Chair Johnston told the board she saw "some significant topographical uniqueness" that supported the variance criteria, and other members agreed the petition met the standards the board applies for lot-specific variances in Prince George's County.

The board's approval validated the existing conditions, cleared the way for the Ber ...gers to obtain a building permit, and required the petitioners to comply with county permitting and plan requirements before construction. Staff told the petitioners the county will follow up with next steps on permitting.

Case information and procedural citations are recorded in the file for V-40-25. The board took no additional conditions beyond the standard requirement that a copy of the board's written order be provided to the county permitting office before building permits will be processed.