At a Spalding County meeting, attendees approved a variance application that reduces the front building setback for Lot 26 on Glory Road from 100 feet to 50 feet to allow reconstruction of a home destroyed by a tornado.

The decision affects parcel 268801025 (Lot 26, Glory Road). Staff said the lot measures about 157 feet deep and 133 feet wide; with the standard 100-foot front setback and 25-foot rear setback, the replacement house footprint would be constrained to roughly 32 by 58 feet, prompting the request for relief. The applicant asked only for additional room to add a bedroom and said the existing foundation could likely be reused.

“I'm at 1205 King Hill Road in McDonough, Georgia. Alright. So in this particular lot, we're really not asking to move the house at all,” said Tory Kennedy, who spoke for the applicant and described plans to rebuild the childhood home for the owner’s son. Kennedy said the house had been destroyed by the tornado, that the family used insurance proceeds to move temporarily, and that reclaiming the property for residence would reduce dumping on the abandoned lot.

County staff discussed measurements and noted modern minimum heated-square-foot standards would apply if rebuilt; staff said they will verify the heated square footage and floor plan before issuing permits. A motion to approve the variance passed unanimously.

The meeting record shows the applicant and staff emphasized the request is limited to the footprint and does not change property lines or public rights-of-way. The applicant said his team has begun rebuilding several homes in the neighborhood and that the work has increased nearby property values.

Board action will allow the owner’s son to proceed with permit submittal, subject to the county’s verification of the floor plan and heated-square-foot calculations required by current building standards.