[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6467016,"mediaKeyId","5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9","parentId",5811826,"title","BZA grants use variance for auto-repair shop on State Road 144 with conditions","audioSeconds",2570,"startMs",1327000,"endMs",3897000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9&start=1327&end=3897","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9/thumbnail_1327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467016/Morgan-County/Indiana/BZA-grants-use-variance-for-auto-repair-shop-on-State-Road-144-with-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467016-e236f31b470448ad87d5196f941704c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584050&Signature=XRDTSzTLwPKAzbq1QnxxtsQBDj8wsNPgy-h1rC0aqky9iMYUqpeH53WW-qT5dttcv2ROgQ4WPzSsdn~V6wrkjERfAJwF57CL6QNMUs35KE9h~huFimAnHstLik5ZB5bwcvbPetKqpAwAhbU-FTKbsXoopZsJxQO9r4jvMyC0dj2oSyAmHL0IgX8JjaHinbkusogPcH5~DQVOngxUK95RM3Bz7UViiPWoN5huJqqFsoMO6OHw-dkHZ-3~3Az9KYYLZZjkZqRZhD7HMJKPOehf5V-TwylUo5Ya5h8pzYs2QyfdrbC-rRW1T~IQDHF0H2l5uPfL7YIFWhnqRzto0t-7Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Morgan County, IN","date","2025-09-22T22:29:12Z","article","The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 22 approved a use variance allowing an automotive repair shop at 5248 East State Road 144 in Madison Township, subject to conditions meant to limit community impacts.

Petition UDash25DashO3 was filed by John Ratcliffe, who said he already operates a repair business and wants to expand operations at his property and build a new garage at the rear of the parcel. Ratcliffe described a plan for a roughly 50-by-100-foot building with six bays and an office on the north end, and said the firm employs four people. He told the board he plans to keep most work inside the building, use gravel in outdoor parking areas to reduce runoff, and retain hazardous wastes in indoor totes that are collected by a licensed contractor (Crystal Clean).

An interested neighbor, Clay Kowalski (5168 East Tait Road), spoke in opposition not to the repair business itself but to the perceived risk of increased public activity near his property, citing festivals and other events at a nearby property known as Angel’s Acres. Kowalski said the activity at that adjacent property has included large gravel parking areas and multi-day events that attracted hundreds of cars and made his property more visible during events. He urged the board to consider the possible impacts.

In response, Ratcliffe said he had discussed the project with adjacent property owners and committed to installing privacy fencing and landscaping where needed. He told the board, “All of my business will be inside a privacy fence,” and said he would keep outdoor work and vehicles behind the fence and out of public view.

Staff recommended approval after noting the property is along State Road 144, an area the county has discussed for commercial development. The Morgan County Health Department advised that if plumbing is installed in the new building, the Indiana Department of Health commercial division must be contacted for septic requirements. The county engineer noted the driveway access is from State Road 144 (a state route) rather than a county road.

The board approved the variance with conditions: operating hours limited to 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday; a six-foot privacy fence to be erected on the north and west sides as needed to screen vehicles and operations; and installation of the fence within one year. The motion and second carried by voice vote; the transcript records unanimous approval and that the conditions were written into the motion.

Ratcliffe estimated the new building could be built in under a year once permits and financing are in place; he said he has been in the auto-repair business for 17 years and currently operates at 162 Taylor Street in Mooresville. The board’s conditional approval allows the business to continue while directing compliance with the stated hours, fence and applicable health/septic requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Morgan County BZA Meeting 9/22/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Morgan County BZA approved John Ratcliffe’s request to operate an automotive repair business in an Ag zone at 5248 E. State Road 144, conditioned on hours and a 6‑foot privacy fence to address neighbor concerns about visibility and events at a nearby property.","taxTitle","Morgan County, Indiana","taxId",63769,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467020,"BZA approves variance to let single house span two Eminence lots where septic crosses lot line",607,753000,1360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9&start=753&end=1360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9/thumbnail_753000.jpg","/articles/6467020/Morgan-County/Indiana/BZA-approves-variance-to-let-single-house-span-two-Eminence-lots-where-septic-crosses-lot-line","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467020-d5850e859a63586b33b186b906c11292/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584050&Signature=fHOci0x0oOo-dA28H4-RDXasY8JOEJV6l--U3ShoJQoBvtWrMuqhDP6Qm9XuT5sIUk4nH3DGIo79gVAJPHcBRVc-EktziUCvZ1SCYhcNU4ZQpYi4vNH5UzV0JsEHg3iJ4pIHLfXjQq6Pkkix0c4bF~196RGQ1pEAEoHimYkiel7EyVjPoeXtGJDQoMmCpc4qCed~Rrs86fer7nSp4C64r6ZzKSC15Df3gBCmqaB-DVKeyFLlEnVVzVmC4ipO0GgvKIJZdqVbImjovZHAb6b7W529h7P1WytRvBAzvYFlZsnsPuveEg1PnaozV69di4TggavUSnWFYXiNY~2K3RS8dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 22 approved petition DDash25Dash17, allowing a primary dwelling to be built across the center line of two adjoining lots in Eminence (Adams Township) because an existing septic system sits across both parcels.

Applicant Tony Hadley told the board he purchased the two narrow lots in June and found the septic system ran across both property lines. He said the layout makes it infeasible to build a single-house footprint on either lot alone, and that combining the lots to build one home would improve the appearance and property values of the block. Hadley identified the proposed street-facing location as Backstreet and said the house would include an attached two-car garage.

The Morgan County Health Department had reviewed the application and reported no objection. The county surveyor made no comment. Staff’s written report concluded the applicant satisfied the BZA’s required findings of fact and recommended approval because strict application of the ordinance would create practical difficulties for use of the property given the septic’s location.

Board members said the arrangement reduces density compared with building two small homes on the lots and supported approval. A motion to approve the petition, with the board finding each required element true, was passed; the transcript records a voice vote in favor and an announcement that the petition was approved. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally.","Tony Hadley received Morgan County BZA approval to build one dwelling across two adjoining lots in Eminence because the existing septic system crosses the lot line; staff and the health department recommended approval.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467025,"Morgan County BZA approves reduced front setback for Beech Grove Road garage",534,240000,774000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9&start=240&end=774","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811826-8ca867aa9e28503f0f643626144157e9/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6467025/Morgan-County/Indiana/Morgan-County-BZA-approves-reduced-front-setback-for-Beech-Grove-Road-garage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467025-6a53271df041124fd5fefbb6bd8d1451/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584050&Signature=DormI5NhkzQkhb~rdoiq9rNyJ-3h3a4uLRngqznpkFdR1jxUT4Jo1YKV3Uj29y-bg~lPh9dg4CdCwSlC92SWxauTzxuWAKTfoy7t1faAPflKFfxAgIQri5bT6FKWu7nG6HsCu69mjU~GN9Vq9705lvXQIJApIORt988InjGDothAOx4-v9L7TAW~iCV--buXqCpfiVW4ahQtWaFlQNu8WZ9W-yGinZj8JqCQVBCiqZ-xzBimoBUjiZSdH3wYoeJJJ380qgOLnJIq6~5EEe~bNic0pIId-Q9taChIcjWNGoiPiDE5cb2RIJBeM3qqDYgjx2M9DAPZ1aHgoSCgDsdreQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 22 approved a development-standard variance allowing an attached garage to be built 25 feet from the front property line at 7095 Beech Grove Road in Clay Township.

The variance, petition DDash25Dash16, was requested by David Young to permit a 24-by-40 attached garage on a property zoned agricultural (Ag). Under Morgan County standards the front-yard setback for Ag is 35 feet; Young asked the board to allow a 25-foot setback so the garage would attach to an existing house.

Staff and the Morgan County Health Department reported no objections. In its written findings included in the record, the applicant stated the house and utilities had been positioned to accommodate the garage when the house was built; the house location was chosen to avoid ravines and to comply with septic placement recommended by soil scientists during the original septic permitting process. Staff concluded that the petitioner had satisfied the board’s three required findings of fact and recommended approval.

Applicant David Young told the board, “Looking to add an attached garage to an existing house,” and said the addition would use identical siding, roof and pitch so it would match the house. During the hearing board members noted much of the surrounding area is residential in character despite the Ag zoning.

A motion to approve the petition with all findings of fact found true was moved and seconded; the presiding officer announced the motion carried and the petition was approved. The transcript records a unanimous voice vote; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting minutes.

Because this was a development-standard variance (not a rezoning), the decision permits the reduced setback for this structure on this parcel only and does not amend the county’s zoning map or setback requirements for other properties.","The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 22 approved a variance allowing an attached garage to be built 25 feet from the front property line at 7095 Beech Grove Road in Clay Township, reducing the ag-zone setback from 35 to 25 feet.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

BZA grants use variance for auto-repair shop on State Road 144 with conditions

BZA approves variance to let single house span two Eminence lots where septic crosses lot line

Morgan County BZA approves reduced front setback for Beech Grove Road garage