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Prince George's County Board of Appeals approves driveway and lot variances for Riverdale property
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Summary
The Prince George's County Board of Appeals approved a variance for a driveway, shed setbacks and lot-width/frontage validations at 5416 67th Avenue in Riverdale after the petitioner said he began construction before realizing a permit was required and an inspector confirmed a permit application was on file.
The Prince George's County Board of Appeals voted 3–0 on April 8, 2026, to grant variances for a Riverdale property at 5416 67th Avenue that will validate existing conditions and allow the petitioner to obtain building permits for an existing 15-by-20 driveway and an accessory shed.
The vote followed testimony from petitioner Ibukuku Maneno and Prince George's County Inspector Swan, and a review of photographic exhibits. "I started doing the construction, before I knew that a permit was needed," Maneno said through an English–Swahili interpreter, adding that he stopped work once he learned a permit was required and subsequently filed for approvals.
The board's chair read the variance criteria from the county zoning text, referencing "council bill CBC 16-20 21 section 27-36-13," emphasizing that a variance may be granted when a parcel's physical circumstances cause practical difficulties and when approval would not substantially impair adjacent properties. Inspector Swan told the board that, in his view, the petitioner did not have a recorded violation for the unpermitted driveway and that a driveway permit application (SIT-00530-2025) had been submitted on or about April 28, 2025.
Board member Stanton moved to approve the variance, citing the testimony and materials presented; Vice Chair Johnston seconded. The roll call was Chair Bower Aye, Vice Chair Johnston Aye, and Board member Stanton Aye. The board directed the petitioner to follow up with board staff and noted that any approved variance does not replace required permits: a building permit must still be obtained and the county permit office must receive a copy of the board's written order before processing permits.
The petition asked for variances including a 28.61-foot lot width, a 17.61-foot lot frontage variance, rear and side lot line setbacks of 2 feet for a shed, and a waiver regarding parking area location to validate conditions at the site. The petitioner explained he and his wife need the driveway for parking and that technicians are ready to complete the work once the board's approval and permits are in place.
During deliberations Vice Chair Johnston asked about the shed's status and noted significant topographical slope at the rear and side of the property; staff confirmed the shed was on-site and that measurements were included in the board packet. Inspector Swan stated the county would follow its normal permitting processes and that the existence of an application supported approving the variance.
The board also handled routine business during the meeting, approving minutes from its March 25, 2026 meeting and announcing that case 1B926 would be rescheduled to April 22. The petitioner, interpreter and any witnesses were excused following the board's decision.
The petitioner was instructed to contact board staff for the written order and next steps to obtain permits. No fines, enforcement actions, or additional conditions beyond the usual permit process were stated on the record at the meeting's close.
