Howard County hearing hears variance request from Robert Warner to build garage at 8496 Thomas Williams Way; neighbor objects

On April 23, Howard County heard testimony on application BA-26-002V, a variance request from Robert Warner to build a 28-by-18-foot side garage and to formalize an existing shed at 8496 Thomas Williams Way.

Warner, who said he bought the house in 1998 and was sworn for the record, told the hearing that he is requesting side-yard setbacks of 4 feet 4 inches for the proposed garage and 4 feet 2 inches for the shed, compared with the 10-foot side-yard setback cited by staff. "The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood," Warner said, adding that the garage would be sided to match the house and that no trees would be removed.

During a review of the technical staff materials and an aerial exhibit, the board and Warner discussed how the garage would sit relative to an existing parking pad and neighboring properties. Warner described his lot as narrow and parallelogram-shaped and said the house is sited toward the front of the lot on a "pipe stem" parcel, which he said limits realistic locations for a detached garage.

An adjacent neighbor, Donna J. Williams of 8490 Thomas Williams Way, testified in opposition. "I don't really want to have another structure added. It's going to be closer to my property," Williams said, and described a history of disputes with Warner after he moved in. Williams also said Warner placed a fence on the property line and moved a mailbox closer to his house in ways she found objectionable.

Gertie (Gertie) Thomas Williams, who said she lives with her daughter at 8490, told the hearing she would not oppose a structure that met the 10-foot setback but urged the board to keep any structure from being "too close" to their property. "I have no problem with the structure if it's not within the confines of the law, being 10 feet away from the property," she said.

Warner responded that he obtained a survey after moving in, that the fence was erected to restore the proper boundary after the previous owner had used part of the Williams' yard as a parking pad, and that the shed predates his ownership. "I built that fence because I was not going to park my vehicles on her backyard," he said.

Chairman Bryant conducted the hearing and reviewed the required variance findings on the record, including that the proposal would not change the essential character of the neighborhood, would not substantially impair adjacent property use, would not be detrimental to public welfare, and that any hardships were not self-created. He also confirmed the property is not in a historic district.

The hearing officer closed the evidentiary portion of the proceeding and said a decision and order will be forthcoming. No vote or formal decision was made at the hearing.

The record includes the technical staff report and aerial exhibits reviewed at the hearing; the board will issue a written decision and order in due course.