Coffee County commission grants variance allowing earlier 25-foot side setbacks on Ragdale Road parcel

The Coffee County commission approved a variance that allows a Ragdale Road parcel (map 066, parcel 065) to proceed under a 25-foot side-setback standard, a board member said during a motion that was approved by voice.

The commission moved on the variance after staff and board members noted the applicant’s submission predated an April change to county setback rules that increased side setbacks from 25 feet to 50 feet. "He was in the application, the application process was accepted in March before we changed all the rules," a committee member said, explaining the legal basis for treating the filing under the earlier standard.

The applicant, identified in discussion as seeking to retain 25-foot setbacks, described a preference for larger lots and said: "I do not want to do that. I want to make nice wide [lots]." The applicant told the board the development would not be comprised of multiple small dwellings and that the plat had been approved previously by the planning commission under the old code.

A committee member moved to grant the variance "based on the evidence presented" and on the board's finding that the request satisfied the applicable variance standards; another member seconded. The board voted by voice and the motion carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or individual yes/no votes.

What happens next: The approval allows the applicant to move forward under the 25-foot setback for the cited parcel; no additional conditions or permit details were recorded in the transcript.