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Sumner County meeting approves variance for accessory structure after owner raises tree‑removal concerns
Summary
A Sumner County meeting approved a variance to allow an accessory structure at a property owned by Melissa McIntosh. The owner and a contractor urged minimizing tree removal and noted grading and roof‑attachment challenges; the motion passed unanimously after findings were presented and public notice confirmed.
At a Sumner County meeting, members approved a variance request to allow an accessory structure at a property owned by Melissa McIntosh, after the applicant and a contractor raised concerns about removing trees and construction challenges.
McIntosh, who identified herself as the property owner and applicant, told the panel that the lot contains an "old forest" of roughly 35 trees and substantial deer habitat and said she would "hate to remove those." She asked whether the garage could be placed in the backyard instead of another location on the lot.
A general contractor who spoke for the project said the rear grade is steep and that "the roof framing with that a finding extending all the way to the grade would make it a pretty big challenge to attach a structure to it." The contractor also clarified the proposed accessory building dimensions as 30 by 18 feet.
Staff presented a visual of the property and surrounding area and noted that the parcel is "a little over half of an acre" and that public notice requirements were met and published. The presentation included findings for variances, which hearing participants discussed before a vote.
A motion to approve the variance (identified in the hearing as motion number 1) was moved and seconded; the panel voted and the chair announced, "Motion carries unanimously." The transcript does not specify the names of the mover or seconder or a numeric roll call.
The record shows the applicant and contractor raised two practical concerns that informed the discussion: the potential removal of about 35 backyard trees and the difficulty of attaching a new structure given the site's steep rear grade and roof framing. The hearing also confirmed that required public notice had been published.
Notes in the hearing indicate follow‑up steps by participants; the transcript records participants saying they would follow up after the vote. The official record of the variance approval and any permit conditions will be part of the county's permitting files.
