By a 4-1 margin last week, the Mathews Board of Zoning Appeals decided a case in favor of the Hole in the Wall Waterfront Grill. The restaurant had appealed an administrative decision alleging the Gwynn’s Island restaurant had violated the county zoning ordinance regarding an addition on the east side of the existing building and expansion of a previously permitted deck.

Meeting on Wednesday, July 12 in the colonial courthouse, the decision in favor of Hole in the Wall came after roughly three hours of testimony from Director of Planning and Zoning James Knighton, attorneys representing the county and appellant Mac Casale, as well as the appellant himself, a public comment period and deliberation of BZA members.

Soon after the start, board members went into closed meeting lasting about a half hour to review with Ann Neil Cosby, land use and zoning attorney with Wire Gill in Richmond, “statutory duties when hearing an appeal,” vice chairman Pete Clendenin said in making the motio...