Board approves setback variance at 5000 block of Shoshone Drive despite neighbor flooding concerns

The Escambia County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to approve a variance reducing the front-yard setback from the 25-foot requirement to 8 feet for a property in the 5000 block of Shoshone Drive. Staff recommended approval after examination of wetlands and site constraints that limit reasonable placement of a dwelling.

Senior urban planner Kimberly Wilson told the board that jurisdictional wetland assessments and the site plan show environmental constraints in the rear of the property that reduce developable area; staff concluded the requested 8-foot setback "represents the minimum variance necessary" and recommended approval. During public comment, neighbor Lenny Foster said the parcels flooded in recent storms: "The April 29 came up to almost a foot," and he urged the developer to avoid making drainage worse for neighbors. The applicant and staff said grading, floodplain and stormwater plans will be reviewed in permitting and that no increase in runoff to neighboring parcels will be allowed.

Board member Ross moved to accept staff’s recommendation to approve the variance; the motion was seconded and passed by the full board. The approval is conditioned on the normal permitting and grading review by the county’s floodplain administrator and adherence to Land Development Code requirements for stormwater and site grading.