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Aiken County Board of Appeals approves two variances, denies and tables other requests
Summary
At its May 14 meeting the Aiken County Board of Appeals approved an 11% accessory-area variance for a Sharyn Lane property and granted reduced streambank/setback variances for a Stevens Estate accessory structure, denied a large accessory-structure variance for a Pintail Drive property and tabled two items for further review.
The Aiken County Board of Appeals on May 14 approved two variances, denied one and tabled two other requests during a meeting in the Sandlapper Room at 1930 University Parkway.
Chairman Jason Whinghter opened the 6:30 p.m. meeting and the board unanimously approved the April 9 minutes and the evening’s agenda. The board heard three variance applications and several procedural items before adjourning at 7:20 p.m.
Johnny Brown sought permission to add an accessory building at 102 Sharyn Lane that would modestly exceed the county’s accessory-area limit. Brown said he reduced the proposed building from 24-by-32 feet to 24-by-24 feet, lowering the requested variance from 386 square feet to 194 square feet and positioning the structure about 40 feet from the road center. After staff and board discussion about property-line versus asphalt-edge setbacks, Jerry Waters moved to approve an 11% increase contingent on meeting planning-department requirements for setbacks and property lines; Jennie Marshall seconded. The motion passed 5–1, with Doug Engebrethson voting in opposition.
Phillip Green, representing the Robert W. Black Revocable Trust, asked for variances at 10 Stevens Estate to reduce a 50-foot streambank buffer and to relax front, rear and side setbacks for an accessory building greater than 5,000 square feet. Green said revised site plans moved the front of the building entirely outside the setback and left one rear corner about 16.5 feet from the lot line; he also told the board that forestry-commission guidance cited in the ordinance applies mainly to logging operations and does not override MPDS permitting requirements. Engebrethson expressed concern that Aiken County’s 50-foot water-protection setback is stricter than the state minimum and warned about potential erosion and water-pollution risks from disturbing the buffer. After debate, the board approved the variances based on the updated site plans by a 5–1 vote, with Engebrethson opposed.
Todd Gaul, representing the Amanda E. DuBose Revocable Trust and Designer Builders, Inc., asked for a 2,501-square-foot variance to allow a 4,529-square-foot accessory structure at 648 Pintail Drive. Gaul asserted the assessor’s record understated the primary residence’s square footage (he cited 5,228 square feet vs. the assessor’s 3,434), which would affect the percentage calculation for allowable accessory area. County staff, represented by Joel Duke, said county code requires using the assessor’s recorded square footage for such determinations. The board considered a motion to approve the DuBose variance conditioned on removal of an existing 375-square-foot accessory building; that motion failed 2–4 (Jerry Waters and Don Houck in favor; Jennie Marshall, Tina Bevington, Doug Engebrethson and Mr. Nordeen opposed). The board then unanimously voted to table the DuBose item to the June 11 meeting so the applicant may work with the assessor’s office.
A request from Prescott & Sons Construction for a minimum-lot-size variance at 206 Larry Dee Street in North Augusta was tabled after the applicant did not appear.
The board set its next meeting for June 11, 2026, and adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Actions taken at the meeting will be reflected in written minutes and any approvals are contingent on the applicants satisfying planning-department conditions and submitting any required revised plans.
