Howard County homeowners seek 3.5-foot setback variance to add sunroom; decision pending

The chair opened a Sept. 15 hearing and described application 26-014v: the applicants are requesting a 3.5-foot variance to reduce the zone's 7.5-foot side-yard setback to 4 feet to permit a sunroom addition. "We are here for application 26 Dash 0 1 4 v, which is an application for a side yard setback variance in order to construct a sunroom," the chair said.

Charles E. Watkins and Patricia Rainey Watkins told the hearing the sunroom is a new, modest family addition and that no construction activity had begun. "We're applying for, you know, permit for this the sunroom," Mr. Watkins said; he later confirmed the house was purchased in 1996 and that the family had not built or oriented the house themselves. The applicants said neighboring properties include similar sunrooms, and they told the chair they had spoken with neighbors and no concerns were raised.

The hearing officer reviewed the five findings required for a variance: unique physical conditions of the lot, maintaining neighborhood character, whether any hardship was self-created, that the variance is the minimum necessary relief, and whether the property is in a historic district. The chair noted the house's orientation makes what homeowners would call a "rear yard" functionally a side yard under the code — the chief source of the setback constraint — and asked the applicants to explain how their lot differs from neighbors'.

After questioning and applicant testimony, the chair closed the record and said a decision and order will be forthcoming. No vote or final determination was made during the session.