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Sunbury BZA approves rear-yard variance for greenhouse at 286 Prairie Run Drive
Summary
The Sunbury Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 20 unanimously approved a variance allowing a homeowner at 286 Prairie Run Drive to attach a greenhouse that will encroach into the rear yard, despite PRD rear-yard requirements.
The Sunbury Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 20 approved a variance allowing a homeowner at 286 Prairie Run Drive to build an attached greenhouse that will leave about 5 feet of rear yard space, less than the Planned Residential Development (PRD) standard for rear yards.
City staff told the board the parcel is zoned PRD but is not part of a planned development with a developer-prepared development text, and the code requires a rear yard of no less than 40 feet in a PRD. The staff report said the parcel’s existing rear yard is approximately 15 feet. Because of that condition, staff said the parcel is more comparable to lots in the R-3 zoning district, where accessory structures may be located no closer than 6 feet to the rear lot line. The applicant’s plan would place the proposed greenhouse about 10 feet from the dwelling unit, leaving roughly 5 feet of rear yard space.
The applicant said the greenhouse is intended for year‑round food production for personal health reasons and described it as a small, unobtrusive structure with an existing rear door for access. The applicant told the board they have owned the home about two-and-a-half years, that two nearby neighbors support the project but could not attend the hearing, and that they had posted the proposal to a neighborhood feed and received roughly 16 positive reactions. A neighbor who spoke during the hearing recommended reorienting the greenhouse door to open toward the larger portion of the yard and urged the applicant to consider fire‑rating and glazing options during subsequent permitting and inspections.
Board members asked whether there were homeowners‑association documents affecting the property and whether lands directly behind the parcel are inside Sunbury; staff and board discussion established that the wooded area behind the parcel is in Berkshire Township and not in the city. After discussion, a board member moved to approve the variance "as written." The motion passed 6–0. The recorded yes votes were Board member Whitman (yes); Board member Rentz (yes); Board member Dureth (yes); Board member Palma (yes); Chairperson Shrewsbury (yes); and Board member Stark (yes).
The board admitted the applicant’s application materials, staff report and the public‑hearing notice into the record before taking testimony. No formal conditions were added to the approval during the meeting; any building permits, inspections or other regulatory approvals required by code will be handled through the city’s normal permitting process.
The applicant may proceed to apply for the permits needed to construct the greenhouse.
