Commission grants homeowner variance and easement encroachment to legalize awning

Columbia County commissioners approved a setback variance and an easement-encroachment agreement that will allow a homeowner to keep an extended awning attached to her house, but required the owner to apply for a building permit within 10 business days.

The homeowner, identified at the meeting as Tammy Pie, said she had extended an existing cover and believed no permit was necessary; she described the structure as largely behind a privacy fence and said it provides a safe area where she cares for her young grandson. "We never intended not to do the right thing," Pie told the commission, saying the code-enforcement officer who visited had not told her to stop work and later advised her she would need a variance.

Planning staff explained three interlocking issues: the new section of the awning encroaches roughly 9 feet into the side setback, part of the yard includes a drainage easement, and the new section requires a building permit that could not be issued until the variance and any encroachment agreement are resolved. Staff said the older portion of the structure likely predates county records; granting the variance and easement would legalize both the old and new sections and allow a building permit to be filed for the new piece.

A commissioner moved to approve the setback variance to section 90-53 for the property and grant an easement encroachment agreement, conditioned on the owner applying for a building permit within 10 business days; the motion was seconded and carried.