Cherokee County zoning board approves industrial setback reduction, denies multiple accessory-structure variances; votes at a glance

The Cherokee County Board of Zoning Appeals on an unspecified June meeting date approved a setback reduction for a proposed light-industrial building on Ball Ground Highway and approved two homeowner requests while denying several others, including multiple requests to place accessory structures closer to property lines.

The most consequential vote granted a developer permission to reduce recorded platted setbacks at 7500 Ball Ground Highway, allowing a proposed 3.6-acre light-industrial building to move closer to the road so a larger truck court can be placed at the rear. County staff explained the adjustment would let the building avoid stream buffers and keep roll-up doors facing away from public roads. Scott Merrill, the developer and builder with Horizon Management, told the board, "We would like to have the building move forward towards Ball Ground Highway to house a better truck court," and said the design would preserve fire access around the building.

Why it matters: the approved setback change allows a larger maneuvering area for trucks and places loading doors away from the public roadway; staff said the site will remain outside the measured stream buffer and include a 10-foot landscaping strip along the road.

Other notable approvals and denials - Approved: Allow applicant to withdraw without prejudice for Case 2054020 (decision-only item). The board voted 4-0 to permit withdrawal after staff said the applicant had revised plans to move plantings out of a required buffer and to perform only hand work inside the buffer, removing the need for the variance. - Approved: 431 Cartersville Street (case 2505.025) — variance to allow an accessory structure taller than the primary residence. Applicant William Roby said site constraints (slope, septic and a Georgia Power easement) and the need to store an RV required a 20-foot accessory building where the house height is measured as 16 feet. Motion passed 4-0. - Denied: 903 River Rock Drive — variance to allow an accessory structure closer to the front lot line and to reduce the platted front setback from 35 feet to 14 feet. Several board members said allowing the reduced setback would invite similar requests; motion to deny passed 4-0. - Denied: 101 Sweet Briar Court (case 2505027B) — variance to reduce the side setback from 10 feet to 0 feet for a proposed two-car garage. Applicant's representative said a 3-foot reduction would help but the board rejected the request; motion passed 4-0. - Denied: 208 Meadowridge Court (case 2505.028V) — variance to reduce a 10-foot side setback to 4 feet for a detached garage; board denied, citing alternative designs and that attaching to the house could be an option. Motion passed 4-0. - Denied: 7133 Highway 92 (sign variance, case 2505209B9V) — applicant requested that a freestanding sign not be constructed in the monument brick-or-stone style required by the Highway 92 overlay. Staff said the overlay requires monument signs built of matching brick or stone; the board denied the variance 3-1 (Ms. Costello opposed), saying the ordinance should be enforced for new work. - Approved with conditions: 532 Victoria Road — variance to reduce a 15-foot side setback required by a conservation subdivision to 5 feet for a house addition and garage to improve accessibility for a homeowner who said he has limited mobility. The board approved the request 3-1 (Mr. Raggastello opposed). The applicant, Kurt Marola, said the planned two-car garage and attached pantry would eliminate the need to use basement parking and climb 22 steps. - Denied: 403 Cottonwood Drive (case 250531B) — variance to reduce a 10-foot side setback to 5 feet for a metal carport to shelter an RV. The site is constrained by floodplain, septic and a retaining wall, but the board denied the request 3-1 (Ms. Costello opposed), saying alternatives exist and noting neighborhood conditions in that development. - Approved: 2200 East Cherokee Drive (case 2505032V) — variance to reduce a side setback to 5 feet to allow an open-air gazebo to align visually with an existing pool that predates current permitting requirements. The board approved the request 3-1 (Ms. Dressler opposed); staff and the applicant said the pool has existed since at least the 1990s and the gazebo was redesigned to minimize additional encroachment.

Votes at a glance (motions, mover/second, tally) - Approval of minutes (April 10): motion by Mr. Hunt, second Mr. Ragsdale. Passed 3-0. - Case 2054020 (withdrawal without prejudice): motion to allow withdrawal, motion made and seconded; passed 4-0. - 7500 Ball Ground Hwy (setback reduction): motion to approve by Mr. Ragsdale, second Mr. Hunt; passed 4-0. - 431 Cartersville St (accessory height variance, William Roby): motion to approve; passed 4-0. - 903 River Rock Dr (accessory forward placement / reduced setback): motion to deny; passed 4-0. - 101 Sweet Briar Ct (side setback to 0 feet): motion to deny; passed 4-0. - 208 Meadowridge Ct (side setback to 4 feet): motion to deny; passed 4-0. - 7133 Highway 92 (non-monument freestanding sign): motion to deny; passed 3-1 (Ms. Costello opposed). - 532 Victoria Rd (house addition side setback to 5 feet): motion to approve by Ms. Tressler, second Ms. Costello; passed 3-1 (Mr. Raggastello opposed). - 403 Cottonwood Dr (carport to shelter RV): motion to deny; passed 3-1 (Ms. Costello opposed). - 2200 E. Cherokee Dr (gazebo to align with existing pool): motion to approve; passed 3-1 (Ms. Dressler opposed).

What the board emphasized Board members repeatedly told applicants that recorded plats, overlay districts and the county sign ordinance set baseline requirements and that alternatives (smaller buildings, attachment to the primary structure, or moving structures away from buffers) should be explored before granting setbacks that deviate from recorded plats.

Next steps Staff said the board's next meeting is scheduled for June 12; several applications on that agenda were still pending sign posting at the time of the meeting. Applicants with approved variances will proceed with the county permitting process; several approvals noted additional permitting or HOA approval will still be required.

Reporting note: direct quotes in this story are taken from the meeting transcript. Board and staff references use the titles and names used on the record.