Blythewood BZA approves variance for detached garage at 825 Scarlet Oak Drive

The Town of Blythewood Board of Zoning Appeals on a voice vote approved variance 2024 VA 02, allowing a detached garage to encroach into the 15-foot side setback at 825 Scarlet Oak Drive.

A town staff presenter described the request as a side-setback variance for a detached garage and pointed the board to a site plan and renderings in the packet. The applicant said the proposed structure would sit near the back corner of the lot and that the garage door faces the street. The applicant told the board the homeowner association, Ashley Oaks, had asked him to come before the town first and would generally follow the town’s recommendation: "They requested that I bring them before you first," the applicant said.

Board members questioned how far the structure would extend into the setback and compared it with recent approvals. One board member noted a past variance of 8 feet and other instances closer to 4–5 feet; another member said the front-left corner of the proposed structure would exceed the setback by about 6 feet. The applicant and staff said the proposed placement was the product of topography constraints and design limits. The applicant said an engineer advised that moving the garage further back "would require a much higher...retention wall, and the cost would be almost...cost prohibitive." The applicant also said he had spoken with the adjacent neighbor and that the neighbor had "no problem."

Concern about stormwater and runoff was raised. A board member asked whether additional concrete and the structure might cause runoff onto the neighbor’s property. The applicant responded that, based on site conditions and a prior localized water-main break, the concrete would likely flatten the grade and "counteract" prior runoff, and therefore would not increase neighbor impacts.

Before the vote, a staff member read the variance findings the board must make under the town code (section 155.466(b)), including that extraordinary conditions apply to the property and that authorization would not cause substantial detriment to adjacent property. A board member made a motion to approve the variance, another seconded, the board answered "Aye," and the chair declared, "The ayes have it."

Staff told the applicant the next step is to submit final plans and a permit application for review; once approved, the permit will be issued and work may proceed.

The meeting adjourned after the variance vote and completion of business.