Hardin County commissioners hear two variance requests in special meeting

The Hardin County Commissioner's Court convened a special meeting at 9:45 a.m. to hear public-hearing items involving two land-development variance requests. The court heard representations for Willow Pond Estate Townhomes seeking a reduction in private-drive width and a waiver of the adjacent sidewalk, and a Golden Trails replat seeking smaller side-lot setbacks and a reduced south-line setback for Lot 31.

The court's presiding officer said Commissioner Cook, who was absent, had consulted local emergency services and county engineers and "all indications" suggested no reason to deny the Willow Pond variances. Richard Faust, representing Faust Engineering Sterling for the Willow Pond project, said the site is "very crowded," pointing to an electrical easement and nearby detention ponds as constraints that make a 24-foot private drive and a sidewalk waiver preferable. For the Golden Trails replat, Toby Bracken of Access Surveyors said the reduced setbacks would preserve continuity with the original Golden Trails subdivision. The court opened both items for public comment and heard none. No formal motions or recorded votes on either variance request were taken during the special meeting.

The court adjourned the special session on a motion by Commissioner Kirkendall, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, and announced it would return for regular session at 10:00 a.m.