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DeSoto County Board of Adjustment unanimously approves multiple variances; one application withdrawn
Summary
At its April 13 meeting the DeSoto County Board of Adjustment approved variances for front and rear setbacks, an accessory building in a front yard and a fence height on unanimous votes; an application for multiple lots on Newell Road was withdrawn by the applicant.
At its April 13 meeting the DeSoto County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a slate of variances affecting single-family and PUD lots across DeSoto County and recorded one applicant withdrawal.
Bennie Hopkins, a county staff member who presented each item, described applications including: VAR-001918-2026 (Sean Green / Dream Home Const.) for a reduced front setback at 5233 Crick Lane; VAR-001919-2026 (Joe Butler) to allow an accessory building in the designated front yard at 4870 Byhalia Road; VAR-001920-2026 (Alberto Morales) to reduce the rear setback to 25 feet for an addition at 4720 Bolin Road; VAR-001921-2026 (Jason Sappenfield) for reduced front and rear setbacks on multiple lots in the Ranch Meadows PUD; and VAR-001922-2026 (Jennifer Moore) for a fence taller than 3 feet on a corner lot at 475 Oakworth Drive.
Applicants offered explanations: Sean Green said a concrete company removed porch form boards and the final survey included the porch, causing a five-foot encroachment; Joe Butler said he wanted to avoid cutting a roughly 75-year-old tree; Alberto Morales said the house predated his purchase and the addition would not affect drainage or neighbors; Jason Sappenfield said he purchased the original PUD from a family member and his floorplans are deeper; Jennifer Moore said the client needs privacy and a pool fence and that the HOA requires cedar material. Neighbor Lisa Houston asked only what Mr. Butler intended to build and expressed no opinion.
Each variance motion passed unanimously: VAR-001918-2026 (front setback 44.2 feet) was approved after a motion by Mike Hancock and second by Jeff Hobson; VAR-001919-2026 (accessory building in front yard) was approved on a motion by Mike Hancock and second by Cham Babb; VAR-001920-2026 (rear setback 25 feet) was approved on a motion by Mike Duncan and second by Mike Hancock; VAR-001921-2026 (PUD lot setbacks) was approved on a motion by Mike Hancock and second by Jeff Hobson; and VAR-001922-2026 (fence height) was approved on a motion by Cham Babb and second by Mike Duncan. The application by Winnie McNally for variances on Newell Road lots (VAR-001924-2026) was withdrawn by the applicant and no action was taken.
All approvals referenced the DeSoto County Zoning Ordinance. Appeals are due April 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and will be heard by the Board of Supervisors on May 18, 2026.
