Planning commission approves access-variance for Dogwood Road property

The Lexington County Planning Commission voted unanimously to grant variances that let property owner Jeremiah Pickens formalize access to a 3.27-acre, landlocked parcel on Dogwood Road.

Staff said the request seeks relief from multiple access-policy provisions because the existing easement and driveway alignment predate current standards. The presentation noted the parcel is tax map 00789805002, contains an existing mobile home at 1236 Dogwood and would be subdivided so a new single-family house could be built on the remaining acreage.

Owner Jeremiah Pickens told the commission the adjoining property owners would not agree to widen the easement to 50 feet and said, "The property owners are not willing to adjust the easement to 50 feet to be able to access the property to bring that up to code." He added the current driveway "is actually feeding 3 properties currently" — the Cushman property at 1240, his own address at 1236, and another mobile home — and that the driving surface is "partially paved and gravel."

Commissioners and staff questioned whether emergency services could access the site, who would maintain the drive and whether a private-road agreement might be appropriate if the access is used by multiple homes. Staff noted private-road solutions require consent from all joining owners and, depending on the number of served parcels, pavement and turnaround requirements may apply.

After discussion, Vice Chairman Frost moved to approve the variances requested, citing the site's long-established access conditions and physical constraints; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote in which all commissioners present voted yes.

The commission recorded no conditions beyond the standard findings that the property meets the narrow criteria for a variance and that approval would formalize legal access while minimizing new roadway construction. The owner thanked the commission following the vote.

The commission's action was procedural and did not change county code; any future changes to the private road or additional subdivision would be subject to separate approvals.