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Board grants residential variances to allow Stickels to add detached garage for family care
Summary
The Board of Appeals granted critical-area and setback variances for a detached 24x24 garage at 4730 Sherwood Ave to allow the Stickel family to convert attached space for Angela Stickel's mother; the board found practical hardship and required standard mitigation and permitting.
The Calvert County Board of Appeals granted a set of variances July 2 that allow Angela and William Stickel to construct a 24-by-24 detached garage and to disturb a small steep-slope area so the family can convert an attached garage into living space for Angela's mother. The board approved the general variances (front setback and slope setbacks) and a critical-area variance for 576 square feet of steep-slope impact, subject to the county permitting and mitigation requirements.
Angela Stickel told the board her mother has significant medical needs and that the household has limited space: "My mom is unable to take care of herself now, due to medical reasons," she said, asking for the minimum relief necessary. The couple presented a neighbor support letter and said they would follow mitigation recommendations from land management staff.
Ron Marney, land management division chief, confirmed that mitigation applies for steep-slope disturbance (a 3:1 mitigation ratio applies to the disturbance) and clarified which existing, grandfathered features do not trigger mitigation for canopy or tree coverage. The board found the lot's topography and the location of septic/drain-field infrastructure create an unwarranted hardship and that the requested relief would not injure the public interest.
The board's motion included findings that the variances are the minimum relief necessary, that mitigation and permitting steps will be completed as required, and that the variances do not confer special privileges relative to similar properties. The motion carried on recorded aye votes.
