Foley Board Denies Side‑yard Setback Variance for 2054 Bourbon St.

The City of Foley Board of Adjustment & Appeals voted on July 13, 2026, to deny a variance requested by property owner Shawna Geri that would have allowed a backyard shed at 2054 Bourbon St. to remain closer than the 5-foot side-yard setback and closer than 10 feet to other structures required under Article 8.1.2 A. Luanne McCarley moved to deny the variance, Steve Bailey seconded, and the motion passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote.

Geri told the board she was unaware of the 5-foot side-yard requirement and learned about it only after the homeowners association (HOA) filed a complaint. The HOA president said many sheds in the subdivision predate active covenant enforcement, which began in 2020, and indicated older installations were treated as grandfathered. City staff and board members examined whether any alternate placement on the lot would avoid a variance; the applicant said none was feasible. Planner II Eden Lapham confirmed an HOA option that had been proposed would still require relocating the shed and therefore would not remove the need for a variance.

Board member Steve Bailey said he did not find a regulatory basis to approve the side-yard setback waiver and estimated a compliant shed would be roughly 6 by 16 feet on the property. After discussion, the board recorded votes of "aye" from Gary Hellmich, Gregg Knight, Luanne McCarley, Keith Jiskra and Steve Bailey, and the motion to deny the variance passed. The board adjourned at 4:23 p.m.