To the Editor,
My husband and I, residents of Putnam County for 21 years this August, have witnessed several changes in the regulations concerning lake setbacks. For a significant period, the setback for building a home was 100 feet from the lake.
At one point, you could see the head of Planning & Development and request a variance, which, depending on the request, could be approved on the spot.
After complaints, the variance process evolved into a more official process. If you needed a variance closer than 100 feet, you needed to do paperwork, which was advertised.
This process was done to give your neighbors a voice about whether your requested variance would negatively impact their property.
All in all, this process was fair to all involved. The variances were reviewed by commissioners and voted on in the BOC monthly meetings. However, in 2020, our Board of Commissioners voted to change the setback to 65 feet; this change was approved by commissioners who did not live on the lake.
As the county had just revisited various zoning ordinances, concerned constituents who had lake homes brought up lake setbacks and requested that the county reinstate the variance process. This process ensures neighbors have a say in setbacks that could affect them. Lake views have value, and if someone builds in front of your home, what will that do to your value? You cannot place your home on a U-Haul and move it closer to the lake by 35 feet.
The variance process is crucial in maintaining fairness and unity among property owners. It acknowledges that not all properties are the same.
Some lots are wide but not deep, limiting homeowners’ options on lake setbacks when building. Or, if you’re building next to a home that was built years ago and much closer, the variance process allows you the opportunity to request to build in line with your neighbors.
In an ideal world, all neighbors would be considerate of each other, but we know that’s not always the case. As things stand, someone could build a new home 65 feet from the lake and cause the home built at 100 feet to look at the back of their house, impeding the panoramic view.
Regrettably, Mr. Jeff Wooten (vice chair and District 4 commissioner) and Mr. Daniel Brown (District 2 commissioner), up for re-election on the ballot in November, are not in favor of change. They prefer to avoid the issue, suggesting that the ordinances will constantly change for years. This dismissive statement indicates they are unwilling to address constituents’ concerns on their watch and would rather kick the can.
The BOC tried to justify the decision to pass the 65-foot lake setback ordinance in 2020, saying it was due to comparing what they are doing in Greene, Hancock, and Baldwin counties.
Still, they gave me a stupid look when I asked how many Putnam County homes border lake homes in these counties. If a house five miles away in Baldwin County sits closer to the lake, what does that have to do with a lake home in Putnam County?
Ironically, when they recently tried to pass an ordinance banning second kitchens and strict fire codes that would make doing business in Putnam County unfeasible, it took constituents pointing out that other counties had no such requirements.
Mr. Wooten and Mr. Brown are not doing their homework and putting in minimum effort to get a paycheck. While the variance process to the standard 100-foot setback was the fairest, it took more effort and added a few minutes to the BOC meetings.
A simple solution to allow more time in meetings so the fair variance process could be reinstated and implemented would be to stick to business during the actual meetings and not take 20 minutes to thank everyone and their neighbor at every meeting when the commissioners have nothing of real value to add.
The expression of gratitude can be offered during non-meeting hours, except for presenting awards to recognize service, retirement, etc.
Sincere thanks, Jennifer Ray, Putnam County