Board approves variance to allow 1,800-sq-ft garage in front yard at 1802 Hoffman Drive

The Oldham County Board of Adjustments on July 17 approved variances allowing a detached accessory structure to be placed forward of the main house and to total 1,800 square feet at 1802 Hoffman Drive in LaGrange.

Board staff said the lot is zoned R-2 and under Oldham County zoning rules parcels under 1 acre are limited to 1,200 square feet of accessory structure; the applicant sought a larger building and placement nearer the street. Planner Sandy Regroden told the board the consolidated lot is about 0.61 acres and that the proposed detached garage would be 40 by 60 feet. Regroden summarized the ordinance sections at issue and noted the applicant had HOA approval and that notices were mailed and published in late June and July.

The applicant, Roy Fulton, told the board he reduced the originally proposed 2,400-square-foot building to 1,800 square feet and said site constraints — including about six feet of elevation change and rock discovered toward the back of the lot — prevented locating the structure behind the house. Fulton said the structure would be used for woodworking and personal boat storage and that it would include electricity and water but no bathrooms.

No neighbors spoke in opposition; Fulton said he collected signed letters from adjacent property owners supporting the plan. Board members discussed whether unique site conditions supported a variance and then moved to approve both requests with conditions. The board approved a location variance to allow the accessory structure forward of the primary building and a square-footage variance to permit a total of 1,800 square feet rather than the 1,200 allowed on parcels under 1 acre. Conditions include that the variance applies only to the application before the July 17 hearing and that the applicant obtain all required building permits and inspections; members also required that the accessory structure contain no living space.

Motion language on the record found the variances would not adversely affect public health, safety or welfare, would not alter the essential character of the vicinity, would not create a public nuisance and would arise from unique site conditions. The board recorded an affirmative voice vote and approved both variances.

The approvals allow the applicant to apply for building permits under the conditions set by the board; they do not authorize occupancy until required permits and inspections are completed.