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Property request · variance

Andrew D. and Denise K. Barriere: allow a structure (Tax Map Parcel #28-C(3)- 117 at 52 Little John Street)

  1. Board of Zoning Appeals hearing (county’s record, May 6)May 6

  2. Board of Zoning Appeals decides (county’s record, May 6)Approved, unanimously · May 6

A step the records show opens the record itself.

About the Board of Zoning Appeals

In plain words

Andrew D. and Denise K. Barriere, owners, asked for a variance to allow a structure less than the required 25 feet from the rear property line.1 The property is on Tax Map Parcel #28-C(3)- 117 at 52 Little John Street, zoned R-2, Residential Waterfront.1 Denise Barriere said she wanted to replace an unpermitted deteriorated deck with a 16’x16’ sunroom with a bump out for storage.2 Philip Marston told the Board there were no objections to the project.2 On May 6, 2025, James Packett made a motion to approve, Daniel Wiggins seconded, and the Board unanimously voted to approve.2

Summarized from the county’s records, September 29.

Where each sentence comes from
  1. “Andrew D. and Denise K. Barriere, owners for a variance to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, Article V, Section 148-51-B to allow a structure less than the required 25 feet from the rear property line” … “on property zoned R-2, Residential Waterfront. The property is located on Tax Map Parcel #28-C(3)- 117 at 52 Little John Street.”The matter as the records title it
  2. “she wanted to replace an unpermitted deteriorated deck with a 16’x16’ sunroom with a bump out for storage” … “Philip Marston informed the Board that there were no objections to the project.” … “James Packett made a motion to approve the request for a 16’ x 16’ sunroom with bump out. Daniel Wiggins seconded the motion. The Board unanimously voted to approve.”May 6, 2025 · Board of Zoning Appeals · In the minutes

Written automatically from the county’s records. Each sentence has to quote the record it comes from, word for word, or it’s left out. The records have the final say.

The official wording

The Board then heard a request by Andrew D. and Denise K. Barriere, owners for a variance to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, Article V, Section 148-51-B to allow a structure less than the required 25 feet… Show all

The Board then heard a request by Andrew D. and Denise K. Barriere, owners for a variance to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, Article V, Section 148-51-B to allow a structure less than the required 25 feet from the rear property line on property zoned R-2, Residential Waterfront. The property is located on Tax Map Parcel #28-C(3)- 117 at 52 Little John Street.

Zoning districts here

  • R-2 · Residential WaterfrontWhat the ordinance says it’s for
    “The purpose of this district is to protect the water and shorelines of the County by providing for safe and orderly shoreline development. In this district, residential, recreational and conservancy uses are permitted as are a limited number of commercial uses that would be compatible with the residential character of the local (or immediate) area.”
    Zoning Ordinance § 148-46

Words the law defines

  • Variance
    “‘Variance’ means, in the application of a zoning ordinance, a reasonable deviation from those provisions regulating the shape, size, or area of a lot or parcel of land or the size, height, area, bulk, or location of a building or structure when the strict application of the ordinance would unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property, and such need for a variance would not be shared generally by other properties, and provided such variance is not contrary to the purpose of the ordinance.”

    Code of Virginia § 15.2-2201, Chapter 22. Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning

What’s happened

  1. Tue6May

    Board of Zoning Appeals · a vote

    ApprovedAndrew D. and Denise K. Barriere: allow a structure (Tax Map Parcel #28-C(3)- 117 at 52 Little John Street)

    After reviewing the request and site plan for the sunroom with bump out and there having been no objections regarding the size and placement of the sunroom, James Packett made a motion to… Show all

    Moved by Packett, seconded by Wiggins

    Minutes, May 6Open it in the meeting →

Meeting by meeting, newest first, in the records’ own words. Each vote names the minutes it’s written in.

The records

Gathered from Northumberland County’s agendas, minutes and notices. Checked October 26.

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How a variance is decided

A variance lets an owner depart from a specific zoning rule, such as a setback or frontage requirement, on one property.

The Board of Zoning Appeals decides variances after an advertised public hearing. State law sets the standard it must apply.

The law: Va. Code § 15.2-2309 (Powers and duties of boards of zoning appeals); Va. Code § 15.2-2204 (Advertising public hearings). This describes the general process, not this decision.