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Commission approves Pine Tree Road variance to allow garage on steep slope
Summary
Teton County approved a variance Aug. 12 allowing a detached garage on slopes greater than 30% at 7102 Pine Tree Road, citing access and safety constraints; approval included four staff conditions and required geotechnical and erosion-control measures.
TETON COUNTY, Idaho — The Teton County Planning & Zoning Commission voted Aug. 12 to approve a variance for 7102 Pine Tree Road that allows construction of a detached garage on slopes exceeding the county’s 30% steep‑slope limit, after staff and the applicant said the proposal was necessary to provide safer driveway access.
Dan Lehman, senior planner, summarized the application and the regulatory basis: the parcel is 0.92 acres within an FH‑10 (Foothills) planned unit development zone and the variance request was for slope relief only to accommodate a garage and safer vehicle access. Lehman said the county’s code provides variance pathways where strict application of slope rules would deprive a property of reasonable use.
Chris Menges of CDM Design, representing owner Wade McMullen, told commissioners the site’s topography limits buildable locations and that a short section of the proposed driveway rises to roughly 15% (with most of the grade nearer 10%); the garage location uses a previously disturbed slope depression to minimize tree removal and site disturbance. “We’re looking to improve the safety of this driveway,” Menges said.
The Forest Service and the county fire marshal submitted comments supporting fire‑resistant design and defensible‑space measures. Commissioners questioned erosion control, geotechnical study requirements and coordination with the HOA on tree removal; the applicant said the HOA had been engaged and the forest service had been involved in mitigation planning.
After discussion the commission found the variance criteria in the Land Development Code could be met with conditions and approved the request. The motion to approve cited the application materials (filed 07/09/2025) and included four conditions in the staff report, including geotechnical review, erosion control and compliance with fire‑protection recommendations.
Next steps: applicant to provide required geotechnical analysis and graders’ plans and to record any conditions before building permits may be issued; the commission recorded the approval and the staff conditions in the written decision.
