Board of Adjustment recommends 30% lot coverage for 1732 Papaya Drive despite staff denial

The Clay County Board of Adjustment on May 28, 2026 voted 4-0 to recommend approval of a variance allowing up to 30% maximum lot coverage for a parcel at 1732 Papaya Drive, a change sought so the homeowner may place a detached accessory storage structure on the lot.

A county staff member told the board the parcel, in the RA zoning district and part of Grove Park Unit 8, is about 0.254 acres (roughly 11,000 square feet) and that the existing house is about 2,784 gross square feet, which yields the district's maximum lot coverage of 25%. "With that, staff finds that the request variance to increase the maximum lot coverage in the RA zoning district is not consistent with the land development code," the staff member said, and recommended denial, noting a larger lot coverage could increase impervious surface and runoff affecting adjacent parcels.

Crystal Stonezipher, identifying herself as representing the contractor and speaking for applicant Colette Mazuka, explained the homeowner recently relocated from Georgia after a house fire and wants a separate shed for gas-powered tools rather than storing them in an attached garage. "She had a house fire where she was before, and she didn't want her gas powered things in her garage where, obviously, if something happened, it was attached to the home and the whole house would go up in flames," Stonezipher said. She said the contractor's immediate interest was a site-built 16-by-10 shed (160 square feet), which the representative said would equate to about 26.6% lot coverage; the application was filed as a percentage after guidance from the zoning office.

Board members questioned whether neighboring houses were built to the same maximum coverage and raised concerns about drainage and runoff. One member said many builders design homes close to the maximum allowed to lower lot costs for buyers, and another described a 40% request as an "open blank check." After discussion about intermediate percentages, a member proposed 30% as a compromise. The board then moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval at a 30% maximum lot coverage; the motion passed 4-0.

The action from the Board of Adjustment is a recommendation based on the local review; it does not by itself change the Clay County Land Development Code. The meeting record shows staff recommended denial based on the code's RA district standards and potential impacts to stormwater; the board chose to approve a more limited increase than the applicant's initially stated percentage range. The board adjourned after a brief second public comment period and a short scheduling discussion.