Bargersville BZA approves driveway variance for Saddle Club South Lot 140

The Town of Bargersville Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 27, 2025 approved variance VAR-513-2024 to allow a 36-foot-4-inch residential driveway at 3899 Saddle Club South Parkway.

The variance, requested by Kimberly Eads, would widen an existing 16-foot driveway to permit use of a front-loaded three-car garage and better accommodate three vehicles. The board opened a public hearing, heard from the petitioner and staff, and voted 4-0 to approve the request.

The request was presented to the board as a development-standards variance under the towns Unified Development Code. Chelsea Fenimore, the town planner, explained that driveway width is measured at the public right-of-way line (the sidewalk) and that the measurement excludes decorative driveway "wings," which are treated as exempt. Fenimore confirmed there are no platted drainage or utility easements across the property and that pavement is not subject to the same setback requirements as structures.

Petitioner Kimberly Eads, who said she is disabled and lives with her mother, told the board widening the driveway is a matter of "convenience" and accessibility. "This is for convenience. Obviously, I'm disabled. My son takes care of me," Eads said after being sworn in to speak. She said her contractor's drawings show wings that increase the usable width and that she has obtained conditional approval from the homeowners association pending the town variance.

Board members discussed neighborhood context and practical difficulty standards. Ellen (board member, presiding) said she had driven the neighborhood and found the triangular wing extensions shown in the petition are "very, very common" there. "I would submit to my fellow BZA members that there are in fact practical considerations," Ellen said, describing difficulty accessing the smaller of two garage doors under the current configuration.

After discussion, Jeff Sickmeyer moved to approve docket variance VAR-513-2024; Larry Hughes seconded. The roll-call vote was James Komp, aye; Jeff Sickmeyer, aye; Roana Umbarger, aye; Larry Hughes, aye. The motion carried 4-0. Chelsea Fenimore told the petitioner staff would follow up on necessary administrative steps to implement the approved variance.

The approved variance permits widening the paved driveway at the public right-of-way to 36 feet 4 inches as described in the petition; the staff report and the petitioners contractor drawing (on file with the town) document the wings and measurement method. The petitioner told the board she had distributed information to nearby neighbors and had secured conditional HOA approval contingent on town approval.

The board did not identify unresolved objections during the public hearing. Fenimore will handle the administrative items required to finalize the variance approval.