Votes at a glance: Area Board of Zoning Appeals (Oct. 8) — approvals, denials and next steps

The Area Board of Zoning Appeals for St. Joseph County heard 11 petitions on Oct. 8 and took the following formal actions. This roundup lists each petition, the board’s disposition and key next steps recorded in the meeting transcript. (Where the transcript omitted per-member vote tallies, the outcome is recorded as stated in the hearing.)

Votes and outcomes

1) Petition 1 — 708 Bray Street (New Carlisle): Variance to allow detached accessory area of 3,200 sq. ft. (requested relief from Town of New Carlisle Zoning Ordinance §152.083(c)(1)(a)). Outcome: approved. Staff to prepare written findings of fact. (See full article on the New Carlisle petition for more detail.)

2) Petition 2 — 313 Tiger Court (New Carlisle): Variance to allow a 6-foot tall privacy fence with less than 70% open space in the front yard of a corner lot where the code allows a maximum three-foot solid/4-foot open front. Outcome: approved subject to staff conditions.

3) Petition 3 — 27597 Osborne Road (County): Variance to reduce west side setback to slightly more than 6 feet for an accessory solar array where 30 feet is required (agricultural zoning). Outcome: approved; staff recommended approval based on topography, wetlands and likely lack of future development on abutting parcel.

4) Petition 4 — 220 Pendle Street (Roseland): Special use (multifamily condominiums) and three variances (setbacks…