BZA grants driveway slope variance at 178 Purple Iris Place citing topography and prior grading

The Board of Zoning Appeals granted an 18% variance to increase a driveway slope from 10% to 28% at 178 Purple Iris Place, finding the condition resulted from topography and prior site grading.

Builder Charles Culberson and property owner Austin Collins said the lot had been heavily altered after the owner purchased the property and that contractors from Tennessee National brought in substantial fill that changed finished floor elevations. "We had over a 100 loads of dirt," Culberson told the board, describing the excavation and grading work that followed and saying the owner would face significant cost to rework the house and driveway to meet the 10% slope limit.

Staff and board members characterized the condition as an existing, topographically driven issue and said it fit the criteria for a variance. One staff member said such slope variances are allowable where topography constrains compliance. Board members also discussed measures to avoid similar surprises in the future, including requiring slope percentages to be shown on site plans at submission.

A board member moved to approve the variance on the grounds of topographical significance; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board noted the intent that this approval not be read as a broad precedent for other lots and reminded applicants that future site plans will be expected to include slope data.

The application was recorded as Application 225; the board approved the variance and closed the item.