BZA approves Schrock setback variance to allow addition closer than 25 feet

The Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance request from an applicant identified as Schrock to reduce the required rear setback to roughly 14–15 feet, allowing an addition closer to the rear parcel line than the standard 25‑foot requirement.

During the hearing, the applicant said an official survey was forthcoming and that the intended reduced setback would be about 15 feet: “It's about 15, I think, on there. Myers coming out to do official survey next week,” the applicant said. Planning staff confirmed that required public‑notice steps (paper publication, certified letters to adjacent owners and posting a sign) had been completed for this case and reported no objections from neighbors.

The board reviewed the three findings they must make for a variance — impact on public health and welfare, substantial adverse effect on adjacent property use and value, and whether strict application of the ordinance would cause practical difficulty — and then voted to grant the variance. Corbin Abrams made the motion to approve and Sandra Calvert seconded; the board approved the variance by voice vote.

The applicant told the board the proposed addition would remain within areas permitted by an existing conservation easement on part of the parcel: “And it also keeps me in the conservation easement … that keeps me in that box,” the applicant said. The board asked staff to enter written findings of fact that supported the approval into the record as required by their procedures.

The board did not discuss any fiscal or permit‑fee implications during the public hearing. Staff said the official survey and final paperwork would be submitted and included in the administrative record for the property.