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Board approves variance for garage at Huntingtown property citing septic recovery area hardship
Summary
The Board of Appeals granted a variance to reduce a side setback from 30 to 5 feet for a detached garage at 1215 Brown Fox Drive after the applicant cited a Septic Recovery Area and a pie‑shaped lot as practical difficulties; the board required findings and standard construction conditions.
The Calvert County Board of Appeals voted Sept. 4 to grant a variance reducing the side setback to 5 feet for a 24x25‑foot detached garage at 1215 Brown Fox Drive, Huntingtown, after finding peculiar and unusual practical difficulties created by a septic recovery area (SRA) and lot geometry.
Forrest Huffner, the builder representing the property owner, testified that the SRA and the location of the well constrained usable buildable area and required the garage be moved forward, closer to the property line. He described foundation plans (concrete stem walls, two separate pours), drainage measures (French drains) and that siding and roofing will match the house. Board members requested that findings of peculiar and unusual practical difficulties be placed on the record; Huffner and the board read those findings aloud prior to the conclusion.
The board reviewed evidence including public notice, staff exhibits and field photos and discussed utility coordination and construction controls (washout, silt fencing). The panel concluded the requested variance is the minimum adjustment necessary, is not based on actions of the applicant, and will not injure the public interest. The board voted to grant the variance and closed the record.
The board noted standard conditions for construction and required the applicant to follow SMECO or utility recommendations if the transformer near the property line requires adjustments during construction.
