A tabled variance request for Serene Mountains Properties to build a home on Grandeur Drive in Blue Ridge was approved with no discussion during the Fannin County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, January 28.
“This was one we tabled until this meeting and the variance request to build a new home and porch 17 feet from Grandeur and 24.5 feet from the centerline of Grandeur Drive and I’m going to make a motion that we approve this variance,” Chairman Stan Helton said before asking for a second to the motion, which was given by Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson.
Members of the audience asked if there would be any discussion on the topic and Helton responded, “Excuse me, pardon me, we’re voting here. Please don’t interrupt us. I have a second. All in favor?”
The vote received approval with Helton and Patterson’s vote, while Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson abstained.
Falls Over Lake Blue Ridge Association president Barbara Shrewsbury had originally contested the variance request during the board’s January 14 meeting, which resulted in its tabling to allow time for a mediator to speak to the developer and those concerned with the variance.
After the variance was granted Shrewsbury asked the board, “Can I ask you a question?”
Helton responded, “Ma’am, there will be no more communication on this. The variance is done. Thank you.”
A seperate variance request, for Keith Curr to place a house 30 feet from the edge of Oak Ridge Way and 35 feet from the centerline of the same road in the Hemptown Heights subdivision, was contested during the meeting.
Gary Gelderman and Bob Morris, residents and members of the Hemptown Heights Homeowners Association, are concerned that there will not be enough appropriate parking if the new home is built, which they believe could potentially cause safety concerns and continue to make it more difficult for emergency personnel to get into the subdivision in emergency situations.
“There’s just a number of things which we want clarified and acted on and so far we know nothing,” Morris said.
Patterson said, “It’s a tough call,” and Johnson said he would like to have time to review other variances that had been granted in the subdivision to compare.
“What you’ll probably find is no variances because they didn’t ask for a variance and they just built it against code and once it was built there was nothing we could do,” Gelderman said.
Helton suggested tabling the request until the board’s February 11 meeting and the board members agreed with a unanimous voted to do so.