The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 24 approved a development-standard variance allowing an accessory dwelling unit at 5055 Poff Road to exceed the local living-area limit to accommodate the applicant’s disabled relative.

Applicant Matthew Dunn, who gave his address as 5055 Poff Road in Martinsville, told the board he wanted the additional space "so I can move my sister-in-law out here. She's having some health problems," and that the addition would match the existing home. The application in the public record requests an increase of 272 square feet beyond the typical maximum for an attached accessory dwelling unit.

The chair read staff findings and the applicant’s written justification into the record, stating the application says the addition would provide appropriate living quarters and care for a disabled family member. The transcript records that the surveyor made no comment, the health department "states they have no objections," and staff "would not be opposed" to the increase in living area.

A board member moved to approve the request (the motion references the petition identifier in the record as "D-20-519"), the motion was seconded (the record names the seconder as Mister Crone, though the transcript contains inconsistent spellings of that name), and the motion was approved by voice vote with no dissent recorded. The motion text in the record authorizes the accessory dwelling unit to be constructed with a maximum living area of 848 square feet after the variance is applied.

The applicant said he will perform the work himself. The meeting record does not list conditions attached to the approval and no opposition was entered on the record during this meeting.

Next steps: the transcript does not record any subsequent appeals, required permits, or a follow-up timeline; standard building- and permitting-approval processes would apply before construction begins.