Board of Appeals approves variances for Lusby deck and Port Republic garage

The Calvert County Board of Appeals on Dec. 4 approved two property variances after hearing testimony from applicants and staff. In the first case the board granted a variance to replace an existing unpermitted deck at 1019 Holly Lane in Lusby with a permitted 140-square-foot deck, a net reduction of 44 square feet, after the applicant and witnesses described the existing structure as unsafe.

Steven Knight, CEO of Maryland Custom Construction, told the board the project is a safety-driven replacement: "Existing structure is unsafe and was built without proper permitting," he said, adding the new deck will be smaller than what exists. Property co-owner Paula Linthicum said she bought the home in 2010 and provided listing photos and time-stamped images she said show the deck predated her purchase. County staff confirmed public notice and that mitigation bonding for the critical-area application had been paid. After reciting findings across the board's criteria, a board member moved to grant the variance and the motion carried in open session.

In the second case the board granted a setback variance for Andrew and Rachel Crosby to build a 30-by-50 detached garage at 4810 Brooms Island Road in Port Republic. "We are trying to build a 30 by 50 detached garage," Andrew Crosby told the board, noting lot constraints including wells and steep grades that limit placement. Staff and a planner clarified that whether the building is described as a "pole barn" or a garage is a construction-method distinction and does not change the zoning review on setbacks. The board found the requested reduction from 30 feet to 10 feet was the minimum adjustment necessary and granted the variance.

Both grants were announced during the hearing and will be followed by written orders. The board also corrected a clerical error in one case number on staff paperwork during the session.