The story
David and Karen Bolen sought a variance to the Franklin County Unified Development Code to build an accessory structure, a garage, on their +/- 5.18-acre tract on Commonwealth Dr in Martin without having a principal dwelling on the property, which is zoned Rural Residential.
The county's Planning Commission had recommended denial of the request, with conditions attached if it were granted anyway.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners took up the variance, V-2025-005, at its April 7, 2025 meeting.
The Board of Commissioners approved the variance 5-0, allowing the Bolens to build the accessory structure on the property without a principal dwelling.