Carmel hearing officer approves five zoning petitions, including pool setbacks, covered patio and one-year short-term rental renewal

Carmel hearing officer approved five zoning petitions Feb. 24, granting variances and a short-term rental renewal with conditions that include payment into the stormwater fund, final engineering sign-off and adoption of findings of fact.

The hearing officer opened the public hearing and moved through five petitions: the Engel King residence variances (PZ-2025-0001V and 0002V), a Silas family pool setback variance (PZ-2025-0004V), a pool and decking variance for a Jackson's Grant property (PZ-2025-0005V and 0006V), a covered grilling/seating-area variance for the Bean residence (PZ-2025-0021V), and the Thomas short-term rental renewal (PZ-2025-0022SE).

The Engelking petition sought two variances to allow an addition and a new garage on a very small lot — about one-tenth of an acre. Petitioner Scott Engelking said the lot’s size makes compliance difficult: "we're planning an addition... it's a very small lot," he told the hearing. City engineering staff said the project cannot provide on-site stormwater detention because of the lot size and instead recommended that the petitioner pay into the city's stormwater fund. The hearing officer approved the variances with two conditions: payment into the stormwater fund and submission of a conceptual landscape plan at building permit showing at least one medium or native shade tree, and with adoption of the findings of fact.

Eugene and Angela Silas requested variance PZ-2025-0004V to place a pool in a side yard, asking for a 5-foot…