Board rejects rezoning request for lake resident’s garage

An Anchor Downs resident who built a $50,000 boat garage without a building permit isn’t getting any help from the Rowan County Planning Board.

Earlier this month the county’s Zoning Board of Adjustment turned thumbs down on William L. Lomax’s effort to make his building legal.

Lomax, of 120 Jibsail Road, built a large garage on a half-acre lot on Mainsail Drive. When he attempted to get electricity hooked up, county officials discovered he never got a building permit.

Under existing county ordinances, no structure would be allowed on the half-acre lot, which won’t handle a septic system.

In early November, Lomax tried to get the building qualified under text that allows accessory structures. The Zoning Board of Adjustment upheld County Planner Marion Lytle’s ruling that since the garage isn’t on the property where Lomax’s home is, it can’t be an accessory structure.

In another bid to legalize his structure, he asked the county Planning Department to develop an amendment to county zoning rules that would make the garage legal.

That effort didn’t go over well with the Rowan County Planning Board.

“We’re not sure that is the highest priority of the Planning Department or Planning Board to write a text amendment to make him legal,” said John Linker, chairman of the Planning Board.

There was no support for changing the ordinance during the board’s meeting Monday evening.

Instead, Planning Board members said Lomax should follow procedure. He can appeal the Zoning Board of Adjustment ruling to Rowan County Superior Court.

Linker said the bottom line is that Lomax could never have gotten a permit if he had followed proper procedures.

Lomax told a skeptical Zoning Board of Adjustment that he didn’t know he had to get a building permit.

Linker and planners indicated that at some time in the future they may look at the issue of lots in the lake area that don’t perk and could be used for non-commercial storage facilities for boats.

Board members made clear they have no intention to rush to Lomax’s aid.

Instead, Linker said the Planning Board hopes to get back on track and focus on two major areas during the next year. The board will resume work on creating economic development areas along Interstate 85 between Salisbury and China Grove.

Planners undertook the in-depth look at property in the area nearly a year ago. The area includes nearly 2,000 parcels and will require a series of public hearings and information workshops.

Linker said another priority will be to look at making changes in how businesses are handled in the rural agricultural district, with the idea of clarifying and simplifying the process.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com .