Cherokee County denies variance to build inside county stream buffer at 265 Traditions Drive

A Cherokee County zoning board denied a request to remove 25 feet of the county stream buffer for a new house at 265 Traditions Drive, citing conflicting plats and a split board vote.

The board heard the case of application 2508044B on a 1.1-acre lot in the Echelon Conservation Subdivision. Planning staff told members the county requires a 50-foot undisturbed vegetative stream buffer measured from the top of bank; the inner 25 feet reflect a state buffer defined by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Staff said the applicant asked to remove the county buffer and advertised authorization for encroachment as part of the variance application.

Planning staff said the applicant estimated roughly 2,700 square feet of proposed encroachment into the county buffer and showed a FEMA/"future conditions" floodplain covering about 30% of the lot. Staff…