Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbor concerns over drainage as commissioners approve Westwood Heights setback variance
Summary
A variance to reduce setbacks on a 0.29‑acre lot in Westwood Heights was approved March 17 to align with neighborhood covenants; neighbors raised flooding and drainage concerns and asked county engineers to inspect properties during planned neighborhood drainage improvements.
The Effingham County Board of Commissioners approved a variance March 17 allowing a decreased setback for a 0.29‑acre lot in the Westwood Heights subdivision so the buildable area aligns with the neighborhood's original covenants.
Senior Planner Kimberly Barlet and Building Official Josh Mary said the parcel is a legal nonconforming lot created before current AR1 standards and that strict application of present setbacks would make a reasonable home impractical. The applicant, speaking as Alex for Alexander 3 Investments LLC, said he has placed form boards and will finish permitting before beginning construction.
Neighbor Lyn Hall spoke in opposition, citing persistent flooding on her property and concern that the new fill and grading could speed stormwater onto her lot. "My property always already experiences flooding at this time, and by allowing this proposed variance, that will speed up storm water flowing onto my land," she said. County staff and the developer said they will work to direct lot grading to the front ditches and offered to have the county engineer inspect the property as neighborhood drainage improvements continue. Alex said his contractor will address the lot‑level grading to route water to front ditches.
Commissioners discussed the desirability of applying the original covenants' setbacks consistently across the neighborhood; staff said a prior coordinated effort to secure owner responses had left some lots unresolved, which is why this application came to the board individually. A motion to approve the variance based on the original covenants carried.
Why it matters The decision reflects a balance between honoring established neighborhood covenants and addressing long‑standing drainage issues raised by neighbors. Staff and the developer committed to addressing lot‑level grading to mitigate direct impacts on adjacent yards, while county engineers indicated there is an ongoing neighborhood drainage project intended to address broader flooding problems.
Next steps County staff said they will provide contact information for the county engineer so neighbors can request on‑site review; developers must comply with county grading and stormwater requirements during permit review.
Speakers (selected): Kimberly Barlet (Senior Planner); Josh Mary (Building Official); Lyn Hall (neighbor); Alex (Alexander 3 Investments).
