Board approves use variance for steel fabrication and storage near Auburn

The Calvary County Board of Zoning Appeals on a unanimous vote approved a use variance allowing a steel fabrication and manufacturing shop and associated storage on two parcels near Auburn.

The variance permits steel fabrication and manufacturing uses at 3588 State Road 327 and warehousing/storage at 1133 County Road 34, subject to conditions including a drainage plan and a recorded replat dividing the combined parcel created when State Road 327 was realigned.

The request, filed under Petition 25-03, was presented to the board by staff members who noted one parcel (1133 County Road 34) already contains a pole-barn-style building used previously for fabrication and storage. Chad Fox, who identified himself as the applicant and business owner, described the work done in the existing shop and the new proposal: a renovated residence at 3588 would become office space, the existing shop at 1133 would be used for storage/warehousing, and a new manufacturing building would be sited on the south parcel with access tied to the existing driveway to State Road 327.

Staff told the board the southern parcel is not yet owned by Fox; if the use variance is approved, Fox would then purchase it. The zoning administrator recommended approval with conditions because the two legal parcels remain technically combined after a State Road 327 eminent domain action; the board included a condition requiring the petitioner to obtain a replat (Country Cove Section 2, Lot 5) to formally separate the north and south parcels before new construction or permits proceed. Staff also required a drainage plan approved by the DeKalb County Surveyor and Drainage Board, and written evidence of compliance with applicable county agencies before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Fox said his business builds a range of steel structures and performs field work for contractors; he described on-site uses as primarily storage and occasional staging for deliveries to job sites. He told the board the new shop would operate five days a week from about 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the proposal anticipates approximately seven to 10 shop employees and four office staff. Exterior motion-sensor security lighting at building corners was proposed.

During the hearing staff said the County Highway Department indicated directing access to State Road 327 could reduce traffic on County Road 34. The board retained continuing jurisdiction to ensure compliance and enforcement authority, and clarified that no certificate of occupancy will be issued until required approvals from the DeKalb County Board of Health, Highway Department, Drainage Board, Surveyor, Airport Authority (if applicable) and Soil and Water Conservation District are filed with the zoning administrator.

The board moved to approve the variance and conducted a roll-call vote: Jason Carnahan — yes; Wayne Funk — yes; Andrew Provine — yes; Frank Palmer — yes. The petition passed.

The board’s written conditions (read into the record) include: approval limited to a steel fabrication/manufacturing shop with warehousing/storage; submission and approval of a drainage plan by the DeKalb County Surveyor and Drainage Board before permits; replat of Country Cove Section 2, Lot 5 to split the north parcel from the south parcel; no obstruction of off-site drainage, surface water or existing tiled drainage; and that the zoning administrator determine when conditions have been met.

The board’s action allows Fox to continue and expand fabrication and storage operations on the site, but imposes procedural steps (replat and agency clearances) before final occupancy and further development.

Votes at a glance: Petition 25-03 — use variance for steel fabrication and storage at 3588 State Road 327 and 1133 County Road 34 — approved (4–0).