The story
Courtney and Jeremy Long applied for a variance on their roughly 12.3-acre property at 699 Highway 326 in Carnesville, initially asking to reduce the required 100-foot residential front setback to 47 feet. The Franklin County Planning Commission's November 20, 2025 meeting was continued to December, though minutes later clarified that continuance was granted by the Planning and Zoning Director, not by a Commission vote.
The request was revised to a 36.5-foot setback and went before the Planning Commission on December 18, 2025. The Board of Commissioners then postponed action on the item several times through January and February 2026, including a 4-0 vote to push it to March. Along the way, the Planning Commission deadlocked 2-2 and issued no recommendation on the variance.
At the Board of Commissioners' March 2, 2026 meeting, the applicant said she needed the variance approved so the family could finish the house and move in. Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the reduced setback, with Busby and Thompson in favor and Smith opposed.
A Planning Commission agenda from March 19, 2026 confirmed the Board of Commissioners had voted 2-1 to approve the variance.