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Jackson County grants six‑month compliance extension for accessory building amid health, financial hardship
Summary
A Jackson County land‑use variance request to keep a 384 sq ft accessory building without a primary residence was denied, but commissioners approved a six‑month extension for the owner to achieve code compliance after hearing testimony about cancer diagnosis and financial hardship.
The Jackson County Board of County Commissioners considered a variance request and code enforcement case for an accessory structure behind a fence on a Silver Lake Drive property and ultimately provided the property owner a six‑month extension to come into compliance.
Community development and the planning commission had recommended denying the variance (the accessory building sits within ordinance limits and no development order had been obtained). Lisa Carmichael, the property owner, told the board she sold her home of 20 years after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and that she had limited ability to move the building immediately. “I sold my home of 20 years when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” Carmichael said during public comment, explaining that her medications and financial circumstances constrained her options.
Staff and commissioners discussed whether the request was for a structure under 400 square feet, whether a development order was required, and the visual impacts from the road. Code enforcement staff said the roof is visible from outside the fence but that the county did not enter the property during the investigation. Several commissioners signaled sympathy for Carmichael’s health and financial constraints and discussed giving extra time to comply. One commissioner offered an alternative of a time extension rather than granting the variance outright; another suggested reevaluating the situation at six months.
The board’s action provided a six‑month period for the owner to move the structure or obtain required approvals; commissioners agreed to reassess the case if circumstances warranted further accommodation. The board also noted they are willing to work with code enforcement on a timeframe but that no formal timeline had been supplied by the applicant prior to the meeting.
Next steps: The county will document the compliance extension and follow up with code enforcement to confirm whether the owner has met the conditions within the six‑month period.
