Monroe County BZA approves multiple variances, imposing permits and drainage conditions

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals met May 6 and approved a series of land-use variances affecting properties across the county, including front-yard setback exceptions, an impervious-surface increase for industrial equipment, and variances tied to steep slopes and karst conservancy areas. The board attached specific conditions in several cases and scheduled one related drainage review.

Board member Skip Dailey called the meeting to order and the Assistant Director read the agenda and introduced the county development ordinance, comprehensive plan and BZA rules as evidence for the docket. After confirming withdrawals for two items, the board moved through the advertised cases and used a procedural "call the question" when items were unopposed.

The Fiske Lake Monroe setback variance (VAR-25-72G) was approved on staff findings by a 4 0vote, with no public opposition recorded.

In VAR-26-11, planning staff described a request to locate a detached 960-square-foot garage at 3985 South Knight Ridge Road in Salt Creek Township, within an environmental constraints overlay. Staff said practical difficulties had not been demonstrated and recommended denial, noting alternatives and setback constraints. Brett Bone, representing Coach House Garages, testified that the owner wants the garage at the proposed location to accommodate a new driveway and to orient roof-mounted solar panels for optimal sunlight. After discussion, the board approved the Boone front-yard setback variance 4 0to—or 0, conditioned on the petitioner first obtaining an approved right-of-way activity permit from the highway department for the new driveway entrance.

The board also approved VAR-26-12 (Cook maximum impervious-cover variance) for an LI-zoned property where the petitioner proposed eight large generators and concrete pads. Staff noted the site currently measures roughly 58.5% impervious cover in a critical watershed where the permitted maximum is 45%. The BZA approved the variance 4 0to allow the work with a staff-drafted condition limiting additional impervious surface to 3,000 square feet; Cornerstone Engineering—s Hogan Helms said that cap would accommodate the proposed project.

For VAR-26-13 (Upchurch slope-encroachment variance), which would allow a 10-foot elevated deck attached to a storage barn in an area with slopes exceeding 15%, petitioners Ken and Gwen Upchurch said the deck and supporting piers are needed for storage and family use. Staff recommended denial as the request reflected preference more than necessity, but the board concluded that limited disturbance could be managed and approved the variance 4 0with the condition that piers within the restricted slopes be hand-dug (no tracked machinery) and that construction comply with the submitted site plan (10-foot deck limit).

Finally, the board took up two related McWhorter items. Petitioner Robert McWhorter Jr. asked to continue VAR-26-14A (an accessory dwelling unit size limitation) to allow additional survey and legal review; the board granted the continuance to the July 8 meeting. The related VAR-26-14B, a requested karst conservancy setback variance to place a 1,600-square-foot accessory structure roughly five feet from a mapped karst feature, drew testimony that septic locations, utility easements and steep slopes limited alternate sites. The BZA approved VAR-26-14B 4 0with two conditions: that the county drainage board review the project (tentatively scheduled for May 19, 2026) and that gutters and any construction-related drainage be directed away from the karst conservancy area and discharged outside the 50-foot KCA buffer. The board added that the project should only proceed in accordance with any drainage-board conditions.

All recorded motions and final votes at the meeting were unanimous among the four members present. The BZA adjourned after finalizing the conditions and scheduling.

What happens next: the McWhorter project will proceed to a drainage-board review (tentatively May 19); the McWhorter ADU matter (VAR-26-14A) is continued to July 8, and petitioners are responsible for securing any required right-of-way permits or other approvals noted as conditions of approval.