Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-16-03-003 — THOMAS NEARY

Request: Special Exception and Variances in the A-2 zoning as follows: 1) To convert existing house into a 2556 sq. ft. guest house; 2) To allow 2556 sq. ft. living area for the guest house in lieu of 1,000 gross sq. ft. 3) Variance to allow existing pole barn 3 ft. from side (west) property line in lieu of 5 ft. (Note: Applicant proposes to construct a new primary residence with 2,556 sq. ft. of living area. The existing house will be used as a guest house and will contain less than 2,556 sq. ft. of living space.) (NOTE: A guest house by definition cannot have a kitchen and is limited to 1,000 gross square feet).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The applicant is requesting a variance to convert an existing house into a guest house. The applicant stated they will not rent out the guest house, and they only intend to use it for out of town guests and office space to work from home. The applicant also stated they intend to remove the pole barn and proposed reducing the guest house to less than 1,400 square feet of living area. The BZA was receptive to the reduced size; and, stated that removing the pole barn will eliminate variance #3. The BZA asked for the addition of condition #9, stating "The pole barn shall be removed within 180 days," and condition #10, stating "The guest house shall not exceed 1,400 square feet of living area." There was no opposition at the hearing. The BZA approved variances #1 and #2, and eliminated variance #3, with the addition of the 9th and 10th conditions.