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Sean Lewis seeks 17.2-foot front-yard setback variance to validate driveway stairs
Summary
At a Dec. 12 Howard County WebEx hearing, homeowner Sean Lewis requested a 17.2-foot variance from the 50-foot front-yard setback so exterior stairs and a landing to a mudroom door that now serve as the house's main entrance can remain in place. The moderator said a decision will be issued after the record is reviewed.
Sean Lewis asked a Howard County hearing officer on Dec. 12 for a 17.2-foot variance from the county's 50-foot front-yard setback so exterior stairs and a landing leading to a mudroom door can be validated as the main entrance to his home.
Lewis, who gave his address as 10676 Stansfield Road in Laurel, told the panel the house was renovated after he bought it and that the rebuilt mudroom and stairs became the property's principal entrance. "It's the only safe place to really access the house from the driveway," he said, describing steep grades on the adjoining Old Bond Mill Road that make other approaches impractical.
The moderator walked Lewis through the five findings the panel must make for a variance. Lewis said the property's steep slope, the shape of the building restriction line and the lot configuration create a practical difficulty that prevents compliance with the setback requirement. He also said historical evidence and neighborhood patterns support the request: a neighbor reportedly retained pieces of the former stairs, and Lewis said the replacement improved the house's appearance.
Lewis said he obtained permits for the mudroom and stairs, and that the county conducted footer, framing and final inspections that were passed. "When the inspector came out, they were thorough about checking the step height, length, [and] minimum distance for a landing," he said, adding that the construction met code. The moderator and Lewis agreed the citation concerned only the setback encroachment, not construction or safety defects.
The moderator identified a measurement discrepancy in Lewis's petition: technical staff had noted a 17.2-foot incursion while a line in Lewis's filing showed 12.8 feet. Lewis acknowledged the error, saying he had measured from Stansfield instead of Old Bond Mill, and confirmed he is requesting the 17.2-foot variance.
Lewis estimated his permit was issued around 2021 and said he learned of the violation several years after inspections were finaled. The moderator closed the evidentiary portion of the hearing and said a decision and order would be issued shortly.
No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.
