The York County Planning Commission recommended the Board of Supervisors approve a pair of proposals – one that reclassified land in the Willow Lakes subdivision so it can be developed and one that would grant a special-use permit to allow an accessory apartment be built at a Wynne Road residence – at their meeting Wednesday.
The first proposal that went before the Planning Commission was to amend the York County Zoning Map by reclassifying about 9.2 acres of land near the Willow Lakes subdivision so the property owners could develop the land with up to nine single-family detached homes in the future.
The applicant, Kevin Rollins, said that while there are no current plans to develop the land, he wanted to get the zoning in order so the property is attractive to developers in the future.
The land is split into a 7.7-acre parcel and a 1.5-acre parcel, both of which are occupied by one single-family home each. The rest of the property was never developed, though it was part of the original planned development application for Willow Lakes that was approved in 1995.
“[The proposal] is entirely consistent not only with the Comprehensive Plan but with following through with a plan that’s been around for almost 20 years now,” Abel said. “It’s hardly a dramatic change.”
The planners voted 6-0 to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors. It will go before the board Feb. 19.
The second proposal that went before the commission was for a special-use permit that would authorize the construction of an accessory apartment on the second story of a detached garage at a residence on Wynne Road.
The York County Zoning Ordinance authorizes by right accessory apartments up to 600 square feet in area or 25 percent of the floor area of the principal dwelling on a property. The proposal called for a special-use permit so the accessory apartment could be up to 35 percent of the area of the principal residence.
Larger accessory apartments are permitted by York County Zoning Ordinance as long as a special-use permit is issued. They can be up to 800 square feet or 35 percent of the principal structure’s floor area, whichever is less. The principal dwelling on the property is 1,536 square feet, so the applicant has proposed adding 300 square feet to the rear of the principal structure so the proposed plans for the apartment are in line with the ordinance.
The zoning ordinance also stipulates the accessory apartment can only be used for family members or guests of the occupant of the main house. Myer said he did not want to recommend approval only to see the property owner want to rent out the space in 10 years, but the applicant assured the board that this would not happen.
The commissioners voted 6-0 to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the proposal. It will go before the board at their Feb. 19 meeting.
