ZBA grants 2.1-foot left-side setback relief for Parker's Kitchen at Little River

The Horry County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing the left-side setback at 1381 Highway 17 in Little River to be 20.9 feet instead of the previously granted 23 feet, a 2.1-foot relief the applicant said is needed because foundations extend beyond the plan shown.

Daniel Ben Israel, real estate development manager with Drayton Parker Companies, told the board the site is tightly constrained by a sewer easement, underground detention chambers and topography and that the building footers proved to extend "an additional 2 feet, plus or minus" beyond the footprint in earlier plans. "We do need that additional 2 feet of of relief on the left side of the building if the board is, willing to to to grant that relief," he said. Staff noted the parcel previously received variances for roof design, canopy and facade requirements and that two specimen live oak trees totaling 78 inches DBH had been removed with a mitigation fee of $7,050 paid on 12/03/2023.

Board members questioned whether setbacks are measured to the building face or to the foundation; a staff technical speaker said post-foundation surveys are normally required and setbacks are measured to the closest portion of the foundation. The applicant said he sought relief now to avoid pausing construction later if inspections showed footings encroached into the setback.

A board member moved that the variance be granted if the above-ground vertical wall construction is within the setback; after a second the board approved the motion. Roll call recorded a single 'no' with the remaining members voting 'yes.' The board tied approval to standard conditions recommended by staff and indicated post-foundation survey verification would be required before construction proceeds.