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Commissioners table variance requests for Sterling Traditions subdivision after fire-marshal, lot-shape concerns
Summary
The court deferred votes on variances that would reduce cul-de-sac radii from 70 to 50 feet and reduce front building lines to 20 feet, and it also tabled related preliminary plats until additional engineering review and conflict-of-interest concerns are addressed.
Liberty County Commissioners on Tuesday tabled multiple variance requests and related preliminary plats for the Sterling Traditions development after extended discussion about emergency access, lot geometry and the county's review process.
The developer requested variances to allow a 50-foot cul-de-sac radius (rather than the typical 70-foot radius) and to reduce the minimum front building setback to 20 feet for lots fronting cul-de-sacs and knuckles. LJA Engineering provided a letter of no objection; however, the court and the fire marshal raised operational concerns about turning fire apparatus and on-street parking in areas without driveways.
An LJA representative explained that the pavement cross-section would be the same in a curb-and-gutter design and that the reduction mainly affects the area normally reserved for roadside ditching. The developer's engineer said cul-de-sac lots would range from 31 to 60 feet wide with average width near 50 feet and that the proposal includes concrete pavement, curb-and-gutter and underground storm sewer.
Several commissioners said they wanted additional study and raised a potential appearance-of-conflict issue because the county's engineering consultant (LJA) reviewed submittals prepared by a related LJA office. The court directed staff to explore an independent engineering reviewer for future submittals and scheduled follow-up meetings with county representatives and the firm.
The court voted unanimously to table the variance requests and the preliminary plats for Sterling Traditions sections 1——3, pending further study and separate independent review.
