[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6474593,"mediaKeyId","5739951-c8de9a45d34c3e6512fc624f514e4bd2","parentId",5739951,"title","Zoning board continues decision on Lervie Loft Townhomes after neighbors object to proposed height and landscaping variances","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1491000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739951-c8de9a45d34c3e6512fc624f514e4bd2&start=1491&end=1491","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739951-c8de9a45d34c3e6512fc624f514e4bd2/thumbnail_1491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6474593/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Zoning-board-continues-decision-on-Lervie-Loft-Townhomes-after-neighbors-object-to-proposed-height-and-landscaping-variances","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474593-f3247ea29e45a28cb230f8bad5e2477d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960200&Signature=LAy9zecHOnj8wh8Wy4d7hYtVjKmTHmR15zFJ8N0~7hRwaTb0Rbcmgp-wwsmpSOFnXYpLTq3FyICFKh9ThbFy2fqsrZM~LwdaQlnFQEClgaa-zhBea7wOk371WBa2yXjDq1oM~4go028b~L~xExqSufBZJS2gN8wxBNR1pT1UdDzaUB~DKuZYQrQIsVaYsspxCARyiWlrLGH6XH2pcdjBat04Rxytp99ZOP75RLzDspj1uoJEBYBsQKIz7b7vPiJkTbRlohFY5c32BtEWwlHNHp2P~NhCNyi~qrOo7IwxYNR8IMmr~S9IYIyNkbOnDZ19y6F3-QQ2VNhJRTV-H5yuWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 2 continued a decision on a petition from Lervie Loft Townhomes LLC to construct two two-unit townhome buildings at 1507/1501/1533 West New York Street after an indecisive vote. The board’s roll call produced two yes votes from Chair Craig Van Dalen and member Tom Barnes and one no vote from Patrice Duckett Brown; the petition will be continued to the Oct. 14, 2025 hearing.

Petitioner Misha Rabinowitch, representing Lervie Loft Townhomes LLC, said the project would redevelop a long-vacant lot in the Stringtown neighborhood with two buildings containing four high-end townhome units, each with a dedicated two-car garage. The petitioner sought two variances from the consolidated zoning and subdivision ordinance: an increase in allowable height to accommodate a four-story structure (applicant requested up to 45 feet, design height 42 feet from grade) and a reduction in the required front-yard percentage of living materials from 50% to 27%.

Planning staff, represented by senior planner Noah Stern, recommended approval. Stern said staff found the height increase reasonable given the site’s location on White River Parkway Drive and within the Regional Center secondary overlay, and noted practical difficulty for front-yard living materials because of the lot’s irregular shape and slope. Staff emphasized the proposal included perimeter landscaping and a plan to plant 31 new trees.

Neighbors who spoke in opposition urged the board to deny the variances. Richard Dufour, who lives four houses down at 1523 West New York Street, said he and others supported redevelopment but objected to the requested height and to reducing living material to 27%. Dufour told the board he had submitted written remonstrances and a petition signed by adjacent neighbors, and argued the proposed height and reduced landscaping would overshadow adjacent homes and run counter to infill guidelines that call for transitions between scales of buildings.

Supporters of the project, including KC Cohen and Tony Oliver, said the development would continue investment in a neighborhood that has seen revitalization and that the project would add landscaping and tax-generating property improvements. Developer representatives said the additional floor area and the inclusion of elevators and two-car garages made the four-story design necessary for project viability.

Board members questioned parking and alley access and asked whether public-right-of-way improvements would be required; the petitioner said alley improvements would be coordinated with the Department of Public Works if DPW required them. The petitioner confirmed each unit would have two garage spaces (eight spaces total for four units) and that guest parking would be along New York Street.

After testimony, the board took a roll call. Patrice Duckett Brown voted no, Craig Van Dalen voted yes and Tom Barnes voted yes; because three affirmative votes are required for action with three members present, the vote was recorded as indecisive and the petition was continued to the Oct. 14, 2025 hearing for further consideration.

Provenance: Staff report, petitioner presentation, neighbor testimony and roll-call vote appear in the hearing transcript sections for case 2025-DV2-016.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Board of Zoning Appeals, Division 2","oneSentenceSummary","The board continued a contested petition for a four-unit townhome development at West New York Street after an indecisive roll call; staff recommended approval but neighbors urged denial of height and living-material variances.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6474596,"Indianapolis zoning board grants five variances on expedited docket",343,977000,1320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739951-c8de9a45d34c3e6512fc624f514e4bd2&start=977&end=1320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739951-c8de9a45d34c3e6512fc624f514e4bd2/thumbnail_977000.jpg","/articles/6474596/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Indianapolis-zoning-board-grants-five-variances-on-expedited-docket","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474596-be5767fa620b96bbc452bb0d476c38ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960200&Signature=TnZPyRnkKDia8IlZGelH9ht4RbN3FTMEvrqJnXCVnKb4RQxgfNsaNSrRRldgCQIq1aYWgkaUI2MMcKbNQ0U5s6cs37WjmvSYHZ4wO8TIH147CFs8cVDDUss~n2JsgLn4rajyfad7BczZG3SBYujYr06ZI60lAEwVaves0UnaEaWEf~8Rn6lEJpjfrgkjo9JSxXn7Yz~Pv~V2EZIX~FXIVWFK3IcxRDkfdEyC2~ERCcgkw0lCqG53hmYQyN4XOg7pKKRD~wfTZT9uD-G0VUHuPz8pw6NckxgX3biawZflIW897cGH35Ulk4iFd7o8fUdttI3kd1C0LkJwEBTCv4A~5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 2 voted unanimously to grant five variance petitions placed on its expedited docket during a public hearing of the board. Chair Craig Van Dalen, with members Patrice Duckett Brown and Tom Barnes present, cast the three votes that approved the petitions as read into the record.

The expedited items included five cases involving small residential additions or new single-family dwellings at addresses across Washington Township and Meridian Hills. Planning staff recommended approval of the amended or remaining variances in each case and the board adopted those recommendations without additional testimony after a motion to treat the cases as expedited.

Board procedure required petitioners and any remonstrators to alert staff in advance if they intended to speak on an expedited case. When two nearby residents sought to oppose one expedited item after the board had already voted, board counsel Chris Steinmetz advised that the public remonstrators should have notified staff before the expedited vote and that the board could not reopen the votes once cast.

Votes at a glance — case outcomes and key details:
- 2025-DV2-029 (5907 Birchwood Ave): Petitioners Drew and Taylor Gaynor, represented by David and Justin Kingham; variance to allow an addition with an 8-foot rear-yard setback (20 ft required). Craig Van Dalen, Tom Barnes and Patrice Duckett Brown voted yes; variance granted.
- 2025-DV2-030 (157 E. 60th St): Petitioner Julie Mahler; variance for an addition resulting in an 11-foot rear-yard setback (20 ft required). All three members voted yes; variance granted. Nearby residents Bill Bull and Kathy Gratton Corden later said they opposed the petition but had not notified staff before the expedited vote.
- 2025-DV2-031 (55 Williams Creek Blvd): Petitioner Mary Elizabeth Seager Revocable Trust, represented by Brian J. Tuohy; variance for a 51-foot front-yard setback where the block average establishes 67 feet. Unanimous yes vote; variance granted.
- 2025-DV2-032 (501 E. 70th St): Petitioner BTC Acquisitions LLC, represented by Matthew Peyton; variance to construct a single-family dwelling with a 33.5-foot front-yard setback where block average establishes 84 feet. Unanimous yes vote; variance granted.
- 2025-DV2-033 (6445 Spring Mill Rd): Petitioners Patrick and Laura Steele; variance to construct a pool house with a 4-foot east side-yard setback and 28.33-foot aggregate side-yard (12 ft and 30 ft required). The petitioner amended the petition to remove an encroachment into a utility easement; staff recommended approval of the amended variances and the board voted yes; variance granted.

Staff and counsel comments: Senior planner Noah Stern confirmed staff’s recommendation to approve the amended variances for 6445 Spring Mill Road after the applicant adjusted the site plan to remove the encroachment into a platted easement. Steinmetz told members of the public who attempted to speak after votes that ‘‘it would have been incumbent upon you to notify the board in advance’’ if they intended to remonstrate on an expedited item.

The board took multiple procedural motions during the meeting: a motion to waive certain procedural rules to allow the board to vote on expedited petitions and adopt staff findings, and a motion to move specific petitions onto the expedited docket. Motions to place items on the expedited docket and to adopt staff recommendations were seconded and passed by roll call votes.

The expedited approvals clear the way for applicants to pursue required permits and comply with any conditions set by the board, such as landscaping, screening or settlement of easement issues. Where petitioners amended plans at the hearing to remove an encroachment, staff noted that compliance with commitments remains the petitioner’s responsibility and that the city would not assume liability for private easement disputes.

Provenance: The expedited docket was read into the record and the board’s roll-call grants are recorded in the hearing transcript.","The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 2 approved five variance requests listed on its expedited docket and adopted staff-recommended conditions after a brief procedural dispute over public comment rights.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Zoning board continues decision on Lervie Loft Townhomes after neighbors object to proposed height and landscaping variances

Indianapolis zoning board grants five variances on expedited docket