Board approves setback variance for storage building at Stockman Road

The Newberry County Board of Zoning Appeals voted May 5 to approve a variance allowing a storage building at 626 Stockman Road in Prosperity to be located 11.5 feet from the road right-of-way instead of the required 20 feet.

Katie, county planning staff, told the board that Clarence and Ashley Howard applied for variance V802050526 to permit a 30-by-28 enclosed storage building because drain lines and septic placement at the rear of the property limit access and placement. "Stockman Road is a county-maintained road," Katie said, and the homeowner's layout showed the driveway, house and septic lines that restrict rear-yard construction.

Applicant Clarence (Howard) said he and his co-applicant had recently purchased the property and learned the existing drain-field configuration limited where a shop could be built. "We just bought this house about a month ago. We wasn't aware of the septic issue... So I applied for a variance to, I think, for 11 feet, to be able to go ahead and go forward with this shop," he said, describing a metal, insulated structure with power and an assigned 911 address.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the pad location, driveway and potential county road widening; staff said no widening was planned for that end of Stockman Road. The board reviewed the five statutory factors in Section 153.052(c)(1—6), recorded concurrence across members and voted to approve the variance request by voice vote.

After the vote the board moved on to other business and set items for the June 2 meeting; a member moved to adjourn and the meeting concluded.

The approval permits the applicants to pursue permitting for the storage building subject to any standard county permitting requirements.