Graham County approves three rezonings after public hearing; shared driveway required for Lebanon Loop split

Graham County supervisors approved three rezoning requests Aug. 4 after a public hearing that drew applicants and nearby property owners to the podium.

The largest and most contested item — rezoning case RZ935‑25 on Lebanon Loop — would convert approximately 3.18 acres (currently in multiple parcels) into a small land division proposing five residential lots with a minimum size of 20,000 square feet (commonly described by staff as a half‑acre lot). The applicant, identified as Stephanie, told the board the developer intends to build smaller, lower‑profile homes (targeting about 1,600 square feet) and connect the site to city water. Neighbor speakers, including Franklin Nye and Marlene Martin, urged the board to retain larger lots (one‑acre minimum) citing traffic, water availability, septic/percolation concerns and changes to rural character. The board added a stipulation during deliberations that the parcel have a central shared driveway to reduce traffic impacts and provide a buffer for adjoining properties; the board approved the rezoning on that basis.

Two other rezonings were approved with less public opposition. The board approved RZ937‑25 (parcel 10502054) to carve a half‑acre front parcel for an existing trailer occupant, allowing the landowner to sell that frontage while keeping the rear roughly three acres as larger parcels; the applicant Leslie Orr explained the request would allow family members to build nearby. The board also approved RZ936‑25 (parcel 10745016, San Jose), a cleanup after a code violation: the owner removed an extra mobile home and asked to rezone the lot into two 20,000‑sq‑ft parcels; planning and zoning recommended approval and the board concurred.

Planning director Steve McGaughey presented the items and noted the planning and zoning commission recommended the Lebanon Loop split by a 3–2 vote; the other two requests received unanimous favorable recommendations. Board members repeatedly framed the rezoning requests within a county‑wide housing affordability context: several supervisors said demand for smaller, more affordable lots is rising while acknowledging neighbors’ concerns about infrastructure, septic/percolation testing and traffic. The transcript records commitments from staff to manage access and percolation/permitting issues through the county’s subdivision and permitting processes.

Clarifying details captured at the hearing: the Lebanon Loop property is roughly 3.18 acres and will be redivided into five lots aimed at about 20,000 square feet each; the applicant said two lots would be larger (one retained at about one acre for an existing double‑wide with its well) and the existing well would be decommissioned in favor of city water connection. Several neighbors said few or no half‑acre parcels exist within a half‑mile of the site under county zoning. The planning director confirmed the commission’s 3–2 favorable recommendation on the Lebanon Loop item and unanimous recommendations on the other two cases.

The board approved all three rezoning requests by voice vote; the minutes show conditions attached to the Lebanon Loop approval requiring a central shared driveway.