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Westmoreland County Board of Zoning Appeals approves shed variance for Seaview Drive property
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing a 12-by-24-foot shed to encroach into the front setback at 394 Seaview Drive after a staff report, an applicant statement and two neighbor letters placed in the record; the board noted a 30-day appeal period.
The Westmoreland County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing a 12-by-24-foot accessory shed to be placed within the front setback at 394 Seaview Drive in Haig, Virginia.
Richard Stewart Jr., community development staff, told the board the shed proposed by the applicants would encroach 30.5 feet into the front setback, positioning the structure about 44.5 feet from the centerline of Seaview Drive. Stewart corrected an error in the packet, saying the structure is a 12-by-24-foot premanufactured shed rather than the 10-by-24 shown in the staff report and site plan. He read the statutory variance findings required by Code of Virginia §15.2-2309 and said the Westmoreland County Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval.
The applicant, Ms. Simons, who said she was representing her husband, told the board the property has been in the family since the 1960s and that she and her husband took ownership about a year ago following the passing of his parents. She described the house as a small two-bedroom dwelling with limited storage and said the shed would make the property more usable for children and grandchildren. "It's been in his family since the sixties when his grandfather purchased it," she said. She added the applicants were willing to add plantings or other mitigation measures if required.
No members of the public spoke in person. The board placed two letters into the record from nearby property owners — Keith and Sharon Bailey (379 Seaview Drive, dated 02/07/2026) and G. W. Sanford Jr. and Benjamin W. Sanford (404 Seaview Drive, dated 07/2026) — both stating they did not object to the proposed shed and did not foresee safety or neighborhood impacts.
During questioning, staff confirmed the lots are pre-act lots that predate the county's zoning ordinance and that existing trees shown on the plan would remain. Stewart also noted the parcel lies partially in an AE flood zone and reviewed site photos showing the relationship to Gardners Creek.
After discussion, a committee member moved to approve variance case 2604-VO2 "in accordance with the staff's recommendations." The chair seconded; the chair called for the vote and recorded the motion as carried with aye votes and no opposition voiced. The board noted that anyone wishing to appeal has 30 days to petition the circuit court and cautioned that any work undertaken during the appeal period would be at the applicants' risk.
The board closed the public hearing, heard no further business and adjourned the meeting.
Details from the record: the variance sought relief from Westmoreland County Zoning Ordinance section 2.13.4 to allow a 12-by-24-foot detached accessory structure within the front/street-side setback. Staff cited Code of Virginia §15.2-2309 for required variance findings and reported that the Planning Commission forwarded the application with a unanimous recommendation for approval.
