Glynn County planning commissioners approved a variance to reduce the rear-yard setback to 3.5 feet for 6241 Blythe Island Highway to bring an existing addition into compliance, after staff said the homeowners removed a portion of an unpermitted structure and applied for permits.

Senior planner Christopher Carey told commissioners the site is in an R-2 (one-family residential) zoning district where rear-yard setbacks are seven feet, and the applicant requested a reduction to 3.5 feet for the portion of the addition that encroaches. "They've applied for two separate permits — one to remove the portion that was constructed without a permit, and another permit to do the renovation," Carey said, adding the owner has taken steps to address the violations.

LaRon Bennett, representing Altamaha Construction, told the commission the main house sits on a slab and cannot reasonably be moved, and that earlier contractors performed work without permits before the current contractor engaged to correct the situation. "We have a survey as far back as 2002 that showed the full house including the garage where it is now," Bennett said.

Commissioners discussed hardship and the impracticality of moving the structure. Several members said they were satisfied the owners were addressing the violation and removing the largest encroaching portion; one commissioner said any future rear additions must comply with setback requirements. A motion to approve passed after a second. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally.

Staff noted that the work without a permit triggered the enforcement action and that no negative comments from surrounding property owners were recorded in the application packet. The variance approval is conditioned by permitting and by the requirement that future additions must meet applicable setback standards.