The Forsyth County Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday approved a stream buffer variance with lesser impact than sought by a homeowner in the St. Marlo subdivision.

The board voted 4-0 to grant a 25-foot stream buffer variance and a 50-foot impervious surface variance for Cheri Brooks, with the condition that the construction of a pool and pool house in the protected area be reduced from the 339 square feet shown in the plans to a maximum of 225 square feet.

Board member Debra Bradley cited the county’s criteria that stream buffer variances should be the minimum necessary to achieve the request.

“It’s not this board’s job to limit the use of your property,” Bradley said. “But to look at the request and see … is there an alternative available?”

In talks with the resident, the board reached a smaller square footage that can be encroaching in the state waters buffer with the private lake.

The board also granted a 30-foot rear yard variance for Donald Plemmons in a 4-0 vote.

Plemmons requested the variance to build a separate garage at his home in the Windy Hill subdivision.

The board also elected its 2013 officers, with Jack Shoemake as chairman, Ed Kroell as vice chairman and Bradley as secretary.