Board grants two variances for Willard to place shed and retaining wall on steep lot at 8900 S. Roberts Rd

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved two variances for property owner Christopher Salem Willard allowing a 12‑by‑20‑foot accessory shed and a related slope encroachment on a parcel at 8900 South Roberts Road (VAR‑25‑82a and VAR‑25‑82b).

Staff presentation: County staff reviewed the application and maps, noting the lot is largely built out adjacent to the road, contains an existing home, driveway and garden areas, and contains only an estimated 0.49 acres of contiguous buildable area under 15 percent slope — short of the one‑acre requirement in ECO Area 2. Staff explained ECO Area rules are designed to protect Lake Monroe’s water quality and that an accessory structure does not qualify for the single‑family‑residence exception. Staff recommended approval of VAR‑25‑82a (contiguous buildable area variance) because practical difficulties were demonstrated but initially recommended denial of VAR‑25‑82b (15 percent slope encroachment) pending demonstration of practical difficulties.

Petitioner testimony: Christopher Salem Willard (sworn) described his background as a local farmer and former landscape architect and said he selected the last reasonably flat area on the lot for a small shed to support gardening/farming activities. He provided a 50‑foot cross‑section (and earlier a 25‑foot‑each‑side measurement based on prior guidance) and multiple photos showing the proposed site to be much flatter than the steeper areas farther into the parcel. Willard emphasized conservation practices and said the retaining wall would help site stability.

Board questions and measurement clarification: Board members and staff discussed whether the petitioner’s measurements used the ordinance‑required 50‑foot distance for slope analysis. Staff read the ordinance language aloud clarifying percent slope shall be measured as a 7.5‑foot fall over any 50‑foot distance; petitioner said he had been guided to submit his cross‑section and had attempted to follow staff instructions but learned only shortly before the hearing that the full 50‑foot measurement convention was required. The board reviewed the photographic and transit evidence and several members concluded the immediate 50‑foot square around the proposed shed was acceptable despite the general steepness elsewhere on the parcel.

Deliberation and vote: Board members noted that practical difficulties are commonly found when lots are already developed and cannot practically accommodate accessory structures without a variance. After deliberation a motion to grant both VAR‑25‑82a (1‑acre contiguous buildable area) and VAR‑25‑82b (15 percent slope encroachment) was moved and seconded; the board approved both variances 5–0 with yes votes recorded by Jeff Morris, Pamela Davidson, Margaret (Clements/Cummins recording variant), Skip Dailey and Guy Loughman.

Next steps: With variances granted, Willard may proceed with required building permits and must abide by any conditions or site‑specific requirements the planning department imposes when issuing permits. The board emphasized the narrow scope of the approval — the variances allow the specific proposed shed and retaining work but do not authorize broad further development of the steep slope areas.