Walton County Zoning Board of Adjustments Meets August 27 in Freeport
The Walton County Zoning Board of Adjustments meets Thursday, August 27 at 5:00 PM at the Freeport Board Room to review nine variance requests and one appeal spanning Districts 2, 4, and 5.
The agenda opens with two items unlikely to generate discussion. The Doty Variance (VAR26-000031), a request to reduce the rear setback from 15 feet to 5.46 feet on a 0.606-acre parcel at 66 Cross Creek Road in District 4, is slated for removal from the agenda. The 23 St Francis Dr LLC Variance (VAR26-000033), which seeks to reduce all setbacks to split a 0.145-acre parcel at 23 St Francis Drive South into two lots, is being tabled. Both items are reviewed by Walton County Planning Department staff — Jesus Navarro handling the Doty request and Ayanna Reed the St Francis matter.
A more complex item is the Dodds Appeal (APP26-000001), which is being continued to the September 24 ZBA meeting. Guiseppe and Meredith Dodds, represented by attorney Daniel W. Uhlfelder, are appealing the Design Review Board’s final order approving a minor development order at 12272 US Highway 98 West. The appeal cites Chapter 6 of the Walton County Land Development Code and is being reviewed by planner Stephen Schoen.
The Glaze Blackwell Variance (VAR26-000027) returns for a rehearing and consideration of new evidence for final approval. Shelley Glaze previously sought to reduce the rear setback from 15 feet to 5 feet on a 0.2-acre property at 210 Tradewinds Drive in District 4. The board denied the request earlier this year; Thursday’s rehearing gives the applicant another opportunity to present her case.
One item with broader infrastructure implications is the Branch Towers III, LLC Variance (VAR26-000029), submitted by Satya Acquisition Management on behalf of Branch Towers III. The request seeks to increase the vertical height of an existing cell tower from 250 feet to 270 feet on a 12.9-acre agricultural parcel at 9577 Rock Hill Road in District 2. If approved by final order, the variance would allow the telecommunications infrastructure expansion without requiring a full redevelopment of the site.
Four additional variance requests are scheduled for final approval votes. The Sperker Variance (VAR26-000034) asks for a 1.5-foot encroachment into the rear 15-foot setback at 40 Red Bay Court in District 4 for a pool project. The Kash Variance (VAR26-000035), filed by Latitude 30 Holdings LLC, seeks a 5-foot rear setback encroachment on a 0.5-acre parcel at 2186 South County Highway 83 in District 5. The Kimball Variance (VAR26-000030) requests reducing the rear setback from 25 feet to 14.4 feet and eliminating the east side setback entirely for a retaining wall at 250 Ricker Avenue in District 5. The Commodore’s Retreat Owners’ Association Variance (VAR26-000032) asks to reduce the side setback from 15 feet to zero and the front setback from 20 feet to 1.81 feet for a replacement pool at 561 Eastern Lake Road in District 5.
The Zoning Board of Adjustments operates under Walton County’s Land Development Code to hear appeals and grant variances where strict application of zoning standards would create undue hardship. The seven-member board is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for overlapping three-year terms. Meetings are open to the public, and property owners whose requests appear on the agenda are encouraged to attend and present their cases. The Freeport Board Room is located at 842 State Highway 20 East in the Freeport Commons complex.
Originally reported by the Walton County CivicWeb Portal and the Walton County Calendar.
