Accomack BZA approves frontage and setback variances, and an 18-month RV permit

The Accomack County Board of Zoning Appeals approved several land-use requests on April 1, including a frontage variance that creates a landlocked lot, a package of front-setback variances for a residential lot, and a temporary habitation permit for an RV while a home is renovated.

In the first case staff described Variance 31-20-26 for property at 21220 Adams Road (Tax Map 77-A-132), in which the applicant proposed carving a roughly 1.4-acre parcel without road frontage and providing a 20-foot easement for access. Staff told the board the parcel would be landlocked and that the need for the variance was self-created; the board voted to approve the 150-foot frontage variance with the four staff conditions.

The board also approved Variance 35-20-26 at 4320 Horntown Circle (Tax Map 13-A-2-11) to allow a single-wide manufactured home on a grandfathered, nonconforming lot. Staff recommended six conditions, including required permits, site corner flagging certified by a surveyor, and coordinated inspections; the motion passed after brief questioning.

Finally, the board granted a special-use permit (SUSE 32-20-26) for temporary habitation of an RV at 17287 Big Road while the owner's dwelling is renovated. Applicant Catherine Etheridge said much of the renovation work, including house raising, remains to be finished and asked the board for sufficient time to complete repairs. A neighbor, Bruce Hoover, testified in support. The board amended staff's proposed expiration to 18 months before approving the permit and its seven conditions.

The meeting record shows staff repeatedly reminded applicants to submit permit applications and documentation; staff conditions across approvals consistently required compliance with county building, health and VDOT rules and made failure to comply a basis to void the approval. The BZA adjourned after a brief administrative update.