Zoning board approves waterfront setback variance for Crescent City parcel

The Putnam County Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 18 approved a variance to reduce the waterfront setback from 50 feet to 31 feet for a parcel at 107 Hicks Avenue in Crescent City.

Planner Ethan Thompson, Planning and Development Services, presented the application filed by Ronald Robertson and Selena Wood and described the parcel as about 0.44 acre, roughly 200 feet wide and 114 feet deep. Thompson said the parcel was created by a boundary line adjustment in 2005 and that county practice changed in 2025 when canals began to be treated as water bodies, producing a nonconforming waterfront setback that now prevents development without relief.

Thompson said staff’s analysis concluded special conditions and circumstances exist that are not the applicants’ fault, cited a 2020 example on Hicks Avenue where a 25-foot reduction was granted, and recommended approval. “Staff finds the requested variance meets the majority of the criteria for issuance of a variance under Land Development Code section 45-8.33,” Thompson said. He noted the variance would “run with the land in perpetuity.”

With no applicant or members of the public present to speak, a board member moved to approve the variance as presented; the motion was seconded and the board voted 6-0 to approve the reduction (motion moved by a committee member and seconded by the chair). The chair reminded the applicant of the 30-day appeal period and advised coordination with staff.

The board’s decision allows the applicants to develop a single-family residence on the parcel under the reduced setback. The board’s action was recorded as a 6-0 vote in favor of approval.