The Wilson County BZA split action on case 4355: members voted to grant an 11‑foot front‑setback variance that regularizes the existing structure’s position but denied a separate request to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) of 697 square feet where the county limit is 600 square feet.

Joshua Williams said the structure began as a pole barn and that permitting conversations and staff guidance at the time led to the present situation. He told the board the pole barn contained a living area and that an occupancy fee was paid; he said his family relied on staff guidance when pulling permits.

The board heard technical discussion about whether the lot’s front yard line (set relative to a state route) and a flag‑shaped lot create a hardship; some members emphasized the property sits several hundred feet from Highway 70 and that a front‑setback variance would be reasonable. That motion passed (the board recorded the vote as 3 in favor, 2 opposed).

On the 97‑square‑foot overage for the ADU, board members and staff noted the county definition limits ADUs to heated and cooled space of 600 square feet and that the structure currently includes components (an office, layout and exits) that make a straightforward reduction impractical. A motion to deny the 97‑sq‑ft variance passed; board members left open the option that the applicant could reconfigure living space to meet the 600‑sq‑ft heated/cooled definition in some cases but found the present application inconsistent with prior practice.

The approvals and denials were recorded in the minutes for case 4355. The applicant will need to follow permit procedures for future primary‑structure construction and, if desired, may revise interior layout or reapply if changes conform to ordinance standards.