Zoning board approves house near farmland

    The Washington County Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a variance to Dave and Jessica Waite to build a house in the 2300 block of 263rd Drive, in the Autumn Acres subdivision south of the Washington Golf and Country Club. The board did so at its meeting in the Washington County Courthouse Thursday night. The four board members present voted to approve the ordinance, and they were Tim Trotman, Rose Jaynes, Jim Cuddeback and Jeff Goodwin.

    Board secretary Steve Lafaurie said at the meeting that the Waites were in compliance with every chapter of the zoning ordinance with one exception. The Waites requested to build a new house on the southwest corner of their property which would be 100 feet from agricultural land to the west and 120 feet from agricultural land to the south. The zoning ordinance states that new homes may not be constructed within 200 feet of ground that is in active agricultural use as farm fields or for animal grazing.

    Dave explained that the reason he wants to build in the southwest corner of his property is because it is the flattest part. He said the property he owns is adjacent to the south and west of the house he rents, which is on Golf View Lane.

    The board passed three motions relating to the variance. The first was to accept the facts gathered and presented by the Washington County staff members who collected data on the property. The second was to accept the legal principles behind the variance, and the third was to formally approve the variance.

    LaFaurie said the staff sent over 20 notices of the variance hearing to residents who live within a quarter-mile of the Waites? property. The staff received no comments from the public in reference to the notice.

    During the public comment time at the meeting, a member of the audience named Jim Dunn spoke in support of granting the variance for the Waites. Dunn said he is one of the Waites? neighbors and that he believes the Waites? home will improve the property.

For the full story, see the Aug. 27 edition of The Washington Evening Journal