News

Jun 20, 2023

Opposition to a garage and a wedding venue at Adjustment mtg.

[email protected] A variance request

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A variance request caused upset at the May 25 Triple S Board of Adjustments & Appeals.

Huel and Susan Watkins, and Shawn and Brandie Watkins requested a 19-foot front yard setback variance and a 9.5-foot side yard setback variance to construct a 40 foot by 60-foot garage to sit 31 feet from the front property line and 15.5 feet from the side property line. The property is zoned Agricultural (A).

Septic lineHuel Watkins addressed the board and said he would have put the garage further back on the other side of the house, but he was quoted $30,000 to move a septic line. The plot drops off in the back on the other side, so Watkins wanted the variance.

Kathy Ruble spoke in opposition to the variance. She live directly across from the Watkins place.

The Watkins built a house on the property, reducing her tree lined view, and she said, the house impedes her privacy and her country view. "They put that freaking house right in front of my house," said Ruble, however the house was not the issue at hand.

Ruble veered off topic a few times and told the board she has PTSD and that the anxiety about the property across the road is making it worse. "It's made me so mad," she said with tears.

According to Ruble, her land was her grandmother's and the farm has been there over 200 years.

"I’ve lived in Shelby County all my life and I know how they treat women," she said.

The chair said the board would consider her comments before voting. When they voted, all board members approved the variance, including member Lisa Bolin.

A Conditional Use Permit was approved unanimously by the board after a request to make one room in a house into a Bed and Breakfast. The property is zoned Agricultural (A).

The owners, Christopher and Emily Stinson, said through their attorney that the room is what is commonly known as a mother-in-law suite, and is attached to their residential home.

There is an existing septic system and customers would have access to parking, shared trash pickup, shared access to the property and one dedicated parking space. There is a covered walkway between the main house and the in-law suite.

The board approved the variance.

A couple asked the board to okay a Conditional Use Permit to convert one of their tobacco barns into a wedding venue.

Brandon Pennington & Jamie Ethington at 7541 Mt. Eden Rd. requested the permit. The lot is zoned Agricultural (A).

The barn is located on their farm. The property is about a half mile north of KY 53 and Hempridge Road. The building will be approximately 42 by 68 feet. "We would like to add an additional 1,500 square feet to accommodate bathrooms," said Brandon Pennington.

The property is a half mile from Indian Springs Subdivision. Pennington said the closest neighbors are 244 yards away, and the barn elevated on the property.

Two neighbors spoke to the board based on noise and closing times issues.

The couple made several concessions, including reduction of night hours and that bands would play inside only, not outside.

The couple asked for and was granted a 19-foot front variance for a wedding venue after they agreed to several binding elements.

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