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By DAPHNE HUTCHINSON
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
“You can appeal the decision or you can review your options," advised Gregory Monahan last Wednesday, after the Board of Zoning Appeals denied Marshall Barron the variance he sought to build an addition onto his residence on Route 645 near Amissville.
“I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me!” promised an obviously disgruntled Mr. Barron.
Mr. Barron had applied for a variance to the zoning ordinance’s requirement for a 50-foot sideyard setback. His earth berm, solar house, built in 1983 on a 5.8-acre lot, sits right at the 50-foot limit from the side property line. The planned bedroom and bath addition would bring the structure to within 30 feet of that line.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Mr. Barron explained that the house site was dictated by its design. As an earth berm structure, it had to be built into a hillside, and for its active solar system to operate efficiently, it could be no more than 30 degrees off due south. “This was the ideal location,” he said.
According to Mr. Barron, he considered connecting the addition to another side of the house. “But there’s no practical, reasonable alternative,” he maintained. On one side, water, electrical and power lines are buried. Another side already has a garage addition with an eightinch block wall that would have to be knocked out to provide access, Mr. Barron said. Ground level on a third side is much lower and would require building on fill, he added. Putting the addition in any of those locations would be “unreasonable and im
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