Zoning board denies variance to subdivide 859 Main Street in Northumberland County

The Northumberland County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Jan. 6 to deny a variance that would have allowed owners Joon and Kristy Lee to subdivide their waterfront lot at 859 Main Street into parcels smaller than the county’s one-acre minimum and with reduced frontage and side-yard separation requirements. The Lees told the board they sought the split to separate a residence (the Victorian) from a hospitality business and to reduce flood-insurance costs.

Board Vice-Chairman John Hendrickson, who moved to deny the request, said the applicant’s explanations did not constitute the hardships required for a variance, stating, “these are really not hardships.” Joon Lee said he wanted to live in the Victorian and separate it from the hospitality business and noted that service issues with a utility company and existing lot sizes on Main Street factored into his decision to ask for relief.

Online commenters raised concerns about possible future development on the subdivided parcels. Ann Fletcher Sims and Catherine Foster said they worried another structure might be constructed, and Philip Marston cautioned that dividing the parcel could increase nonconformity depending on future uses. The board noted a prior, similar request it had denied and voted to deny the Lee request; Chairman Dandridge Crabbe informed the Lees that the decision may be appealed.

The motion to deny was made by John Hendrickson and seconded by Daniel Wiggins; the board recorded a unanimous vote to deny the variance.