The Board of Zoning Appeals hearing officer on Sept. 29 approved multiple variances allowing homeowners at 13727 Smoky Ridge Drive to build a detached two‑car garage that exceeds current lot‑coverage and height standards and encroaches into a side‑yard easement.

Homeowner Michelle Kerschmery told the board she and her husband Jason have lived in the house 11 years and said the neighborhood covenants call for a minimum three‑car garage; she described the proposed detached structure as 25 by 39 feet, built in brick to match the house, and said the HOA had approved the plan. Kerschmery said the requests include increasing allowable lot coverage from 35 percent to 45 percent, reducing the required side‑yard setback so the garage would be 7 feet from the north property line (an encroachment of 3 feet into the recorded 10‑foot easement) and increasing maximum height from 18 to 22 feet so the new building matches the home scale.

Planning staff said the petitioner had addressed planning and zoning review comments and was working with Carmel Engineering on remaining grading and drainage issues. Staff noted the petitioner had received consent to encroach from the Carmel Board of Public Works and Safety at its Sept. 16 meeting for the easement encroachment and recommended approval with the condition that the remaining engineering review comments be addressed.

The hearing officer approved the variances together. No public opposition was recorded during the hearing; the petitioner included two letters of support in the record.