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Coweta County BZA recommends denial of request to use private easement for seventh lot on Serenity Farm Walk
Summary
The BZA recommended denial of Variance 2521, which would have allowed a seventh driveway connection onto the private Serenity Farm Walk easement at 945 LaShea Road, citing safety, prior denial, and lack of substantive change since 2020. Final decision goes to the Board of Commissioners in November.
The Coweta County Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 23 recommended denial of Variance 2521, the application that sought permission for Lot 29 (945 LaShea Road) to use the private Serenity Farm Walk easement as a seventh access point.
Staff told the board the request is a variance from Article 7, Section 71 of the Coweta County Zoning and Development Ordinance, which limits private roadway easements to serving no more than six lots. Staff described the lot as roughly 5 acres and summarized a procedural history: an earlier variance request was denied in 2020; a certificate of occupancy issued in November 2020; aerial imagery shows a driveway connection to the private easement established between late 2020 and early 2023; a notice of violation was issued in 2024; and a formal complaint and court order in 2025 deferred prosecution pending submission of this variance, which was filed Aug. 28, 2025.
The applicant (identified in the staff report as Sean Harkins; Speaker 6 spoke at the hearing) argued the easement access is a safety necessity because the driveway to LaShea Road approaches a curve with limited site distance and he has teenage children. He also said, and supplied materials asserting, that the HOA bylaws were amended to provide Lot 29 with a perpetual easement and that neighbors had indicated they would sign off on access. "It just makes sense that we have access," the applicant said, citing near-misses and a motorcycle crash at the curve.
Staff and public works noted the recorded plat included a site distance certification and that public works reviewed sight distance and found it adequate. Staff also listed required conditions should the board recommend approval: written notarized access easements from property owners of Lots 27, 28, and 35 recorded with the Coweta County Clerk of Superior Court; a perpetual maintenance agreement recorded for Serenity Farm Walk; and an amended final plat to show the ingress/egress and utility easement serving Lots 29 through 35.
Neighbors provided mixed input. Claude Foreman (Speaker 10) spoke in support of the applicant and described flooding and culvert placement he said affects the properties in the area; staff also read multiple written opposition letters from Lots 31, 35, 34, 32 and 33 that were entered into the record.
On balance, several board members said they did not see substantive changes from the original 2020 application, and cited safety and the presence of opposition letters. Mr. Cranford moved to deny the variance and Mr. Yeager seconded; the board voted in favor of denial. The chair reminded the public that the BZA recommendation is advisory and that the Board of Commissioners will make the final decision in November.
Provenance: staff presentation and history (SEG 164'SEG 231); applicant testimony and public comment (SEG 373'SEG 816); motion, second and vote (SEG 884'SEG 952).
