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Planning commission approves variance allowing Grosses to subdivide Wythe County parcel
Summary
Wythe County Planning Commission on July 6 approved a variance to allow Steven and Teresa Gross Close to divide a combined 35.893-acre tract along Old School Road, creating a roughly 5.3-acre nonconforming residual lot that lacks the 100-foot state road frontage required by the ordinance.
The Wythe County Planning Commission voted July 6 to grant a variance to Steven and Teresa Gross Close to permit the subdivision of a combined 35.893-acre parcel along State Route 643 (Old School Road).
Staff told the commission the applicants propose combining three parcels totaling 35.893 acres and dividing off about 30.593 acres to sell to adjoining owners, leaving a remaining 5.3-acre residual that does not meet the ordinance requirement of 100 feet of state-maintained road frontage. Planning staff said the applicants requested a variance to section 5.3 0.18 of the county ordinance to allow the proposed division to proceed.
Why it matters: without the variance the retained 5.3-acre parcel would be nonconforming under the county’s frontage standard and could not lawfully be created under the current subdivision rules. The variance clears that regulatory obstacle and allows the property owners to proceed with the planned transfers.
In discussion, staff walked the commission through the map, explaining that the lots being sold will retain Old School Road frontage while the retained parcel will rely on a private access, Wolf Den Lane, which staff confirmed is a 20-foot right-of-way and not a state-maintained road. Bradley Tate, who identified himself as the surveyor representing the landowner, told the commission, “There is an existing 20-foot right-of-way as well on Wolf Den Lane, serving properties back there,” and provided tax-map references for the record.
A commissioner moved to approve the variance and another commissioner seconded. The commission took a roll-call vote and approved the requested variance. The chair announced: “It has been approved for the variance, Steven, Teresa Gross Close.” Commissioners provided no conditions beyond the variance language described in staff’s report.
Next steps: staff will record the commission’s approval in the minutes and process the administrative filings required to complete the lot-line changes and conveyances identified in the application.
(Reporting note: commissioners and staff used county parcel and right-of-way descriptions in their remarks. All attributions above are taken directly from the meeting transcript.)
