Wilmington Board approves three variances for shoreline walls and a garage, denies corner-lot fence request

The Wilmington Board of Adjustments on June 18 approved three variance requests — two for shoreline bulkheads and one to allow an accessory garage in front of a house — and denied a fence-height variance on a corner lot.

Bulkhead variances: Staff planner Zach Smith presented two separate evidentiary cases for bulkheads along Summer Rest Road. For 230 Summer Rest Road the applicant documented a CAMA general permit (Feb. 27, 2026) and shoreline erosion; agent Jason Dale said the proposed 195-foot bulkhead would tie into an existing neighboring wall and would be constructed with sediment-control measures and backfill. Board members asked about CAMA permitting and runoff controls, and then voted to approve the variance.

A second variance for 402/403 Summerest Road was supported by a CAMA major permit for pier work (Jan. 13, 2026) and a later bulkhead permit (issued April 8, 2026). The applicant's representative described steep escarpment, backfilling and erosion-control measures; after questions and deliberation the board approved the variance.

Shandy Lane garage variance: The board approved a variance at 2722 Shandy Lane to allow an accessory garage in front of the principal dwelling. Attorney Steve Coggins and owner Walter Linford described a complex site condition: a 40-year-old house, an intervening city drainage easement and steep topography that the applicants said make any compliant garage placement infeasible. Commissioners discussed alternative placement and garage size but concluded the four variance findings were met and approved the request.

Corner-lot fence denied: At 306 Anderson Street the owner, Adam Stone, sought a variance to allow a 6-ft front-yard fence (code limits front yards to 4 ft). Stone said the taller fence provides privacy and secures a dog with prior abuse history; he presented a petition of neighbor support. City planner Grace LaMay noted the city had issued a notice of violation after staff observed the noncompliant fence in the front yard. Board members probed safety and sight-line impacts for pedestrians and drivers and debated whether the fence could be reconfigured to preserve privacy while protecting sight lines. On the balance of the four findings the board denied the variance.

Quotes that capture the discussion: "CAMA's permit speaks pretty loudly that it is necessary to control the erosion and it will also control the runoff into the wetlands." — Commissioner (speaking during 230 Summer Rest Road deliberation)

"This is a catch-22: drainage easement and lot shape and elevation make it effectively impossible to locate a two-car garage that complies with the current code." — Steve Coggins, attorney for the 2722 Shandy Lane applicant

"I sympathize with the homeowner's privacy concerns, but the sightline and pedestrian-safety issues on a corner lot make it difficult to find the required findings for approval." — Commissioner during deliberation on 306 Anderson Street (paraphrase)

What happens next: Approved variances will be memorialized in board orders and recorded in staff files; denied parties may seek other remedies such as building reconfiguration or appeal where applicable.