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Jefferson County BZA limits mobile-home parkgrandfathering to existing park area; grants garage setback variance
Summary
The Board of Zoning Appeals ruled that the legal nonconforming (grandfathered) status of an existing trailer park will be limited to the area currently occupied by trailers, clearing the way for a phased subdivision; the board also granted a 20-foot front-yard variance for a new garage and heard residentscomplaints about a heavy-equipment repair/storage operation on Coral Road.
The Jefferson County Board of Zoning Appeals on a recent evening interpreted the grandfathering for a legally nonconforming mobile-home park so that the nonconforming status will remain tied to the area presently occupied by trailers, the board said. The decision, made after a presentation by Jeremy Tucket of S Engineering and Surveying, means the property owners may pursue a phased subdivision that removes the parkstatus from parcels subdivided and converted to permanent dwellings.
Tucket said the new owners propose an initial four-lot subdivision to enable construction of homes as current trailer tenants vacate; he emphasized soils and reserve septic areas would allow permanent septic systems on the proposed lots. Commissioners questioned whether nonconforming status follows the entire recorded parcel or may be limited to the footprint of the park; staff referenced the record parcel and floodplain and noted environmental-health approvals will still be required. After discussion a motion to limit the grandfathering to the existing park area and allow a later four-lot subdivision passed.
The board also approved a variance request to reduce a front-yard setback by 20 feet for a detached garage at 296 Very Old Barton Trail. Brennan Garrett, the applicantrepresentative, said steep slopes and existing septic and reserve areas constrained where a garage could be located. Commissioner David Nelson moved to grant the variance and Chad Dixon seconded; the board voted in favor.
During the public-comment portion of the BZA meeting residents raised an unrelated but substantive land-use concern about an operation at 865 Coral Road. Neighbor David Moore described continued heavy-equipment storage and repair, including drill rigs and out-of-state-tagged trucks, and said vehicles had been parked on the public road. Vicki Roach told commissioners the site is an eyesorethat does not fit the surrounding agricultural and residential landscape. Staff said prior meetings with the business had prompted some compliance and that staff would conduct additional site checks and coordinate with law-enforcement for any trucks parked on public roads.
What happens next: the grandfathering interpretation and the variance are recorded in the boardminutes; applicants seeking building permits must still obtain required septic, highway and other agency approvals before final permits are issued. Staff told residents it would re-inspect the Coral Road site and follow up on any out-of-compliance uses.
