County hears variance request to fit Rebuild Florida model on small Magnolia Manor lot

Hardee County Community Development Director Todd Miller presented a variance request at the May 1 workshop from property owner Nikkita Austin (application 2420 2524) seeking reduced setbacks so a Rebuild Florida replacement home model will fit on a small platted lot at 522 Wildeauk Road.

Miller said the lot is 3,920 square feet (an old Magnolia Manor platted lot) and that standard Rebuild Florida building footprints did not fit within the county’s R3 setback standards (30-foot front, 20-foot rear, 7-foot sides). The applicant requested reducing the front setback to roughly 24.05 feet and the rear to 13.18 feet to allow the smallest available Rebuild Florida model to be placed on the existing lot of record. Miller said the Planning & Zoning Board reviewed the application in April and unanimously recommended approval; staff also recommended approval and placed the staff report into the record.

Commissioners asked staff whether the previous house footprint would have met current setbacks and whether utilities are public or private; Miller said he would research whether the prior structure complied with today's standards and that utilities in the subdivision are provided by a private utility provider. The transcript does not record a final board vote on the variance at the workshop; staff recommended approval and said additional documentation from Rebuild Florida staff was available online for follow-up questions.