Madison County BZA approves front- and rear-setback variance for Daniels property

The Madison County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance to reduce front and rear setbacks for property listed as Madison County tax map 55B-1, allowing the applicant to construct a 1,144-square-foot one-story home. William Galloway, representing the applicant, said the owners had held the lots for many years and that without reduced setbacks "it's pretty much worthless to us." The board voted to approve the case after a motion and second.

Neighbor Oscar Brockman spoke against the request, saying the change would undercut the zoning ordinance and set a precedent: "If the variance is given on this, that anytime a lot in the county doesn't meet the zoning specifications and our variance is given, there's no reason to have the zoning ordinances," he said. Board members discussed that the lot predates the county's zoning (recorded July 20, 1971) and characterized it as a grandfathered lot, which commonly prompts hardship variance requests when lots cannot meet current setbacks. The board approved the variance; the chair noted appeals information is available from county staff.