Planning commission approves administrative variance for Sharptown Road deck with buffer mitigation

The Dorchester County Planning Commission voted to approve administrative variance V26-2 for 5533 Sharptown Road in Rosedale, allowing a modest 8-by-12-foot open deck to be sited within the 100-foot critical-area buffer. Planning staff recommended approval provided the applicant implements a buffer-management plan and a 3:1 mitigation, which the commission incorporated into its decision.

"The applicant is proposing to construct an 8 by 12 open deck within 78 feet of mean high water," a planning staff member said during the commission meeting, noting the property predates the county's critical-area regulations. The staff presentation described an existing lot-coverage exchange in which roughly 2,000 square feet of coverage inside the buffer would be removed as mitigation.

Henry Posco, appearing on behalf of his hospitalized brother Chris Posco, said he reviewed the application materials and asked the commission to grant the administrative variance. "My understanding is the request involves the approval of a modest 8 by 12 foot open deck attached to an existing home," Posco told the commission.

Commissioners discussed the proposed 3:1 mitigation ratio and staff's packet before moving to adopt the recommendation. A motion to accept staff's recommendation was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The planning staff cited Dorchester County code provisions related to administrative variances and noted that appropriate mitigation and a buffer-management plan would be required as conditions of approval. The commission asked staff to include the conditions from the staff report in the decision. No members voted against the recommendation.

The commission's action was limited to a recommendation/administrative approval on the variance request; any additional permits or downstream approvals remain subject to county permitting processes.