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Board of Zoning Appeals approves 25-foot front-setback variance for North Main Street redevelopment
Summary
On Sept. 9, 2025 the Springfield Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance reducing the required front building setback from 30 feet to 25 feet at 54 North Main Street, allowing a proposed six-unit attached residential development to proceed; staff found the request met the nine ordinance standards and the vote was 5-0.
The Springfield Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 9, 2025 approved a variance reducing the required front building setback from 30 feet to 25 feet for property at 54 North Main Street, clearing a zoning hurdle for a proposed six-unit attached residential development.
The variance was requested by the property owner, Karen Bolton. Director Durham, presenting staff findings, told the board staff reviewed the application against the nine variance standards in the zoning ordinance and concluded, “Based on that review, staff finds all 9 standards are met. The hardship is unique to this property, not self created, and the 5 foot reduction is the minimum necessary to enable reasonable use.” The board voted 5-0 to approve the variance after a motion to adopt the 25-foot setback as requested.
Bolton, the applicant, described site constraints that she said prompted the request. “I started on this project 10 years ago … With a 25 foot setback, it does put me right on the, spillover easement for the sewer line. If it would be agreeable, I would actually even like to reduce that to 20 foot so I can make sure I could get off that sewer line,” she said. Bolton described plans for six attached single-family units, with parking between building groups, and said the extra setback would help avoid a sanitary sewer line that bisects the site.
Staff and the applicant told the board the subject parcel is about 1.4 acres, currently developed with a commercial structure and parking lot, and that physical constraints include steep slopes, multiple power poles along the frontage and a sanitary sewer line that bisects the property. Director Durham told the board those conditions reduce the buildable area and affect feasible building layouts.
Board members questioned whether the board could grant a larger variance than advertised; staff responded that the application was noticed for a 5-foot reduction to 25 feet and that enlarging the request would require re-advertisement and another public notice period. After discussion and a motion to approve the 25-foot setback as advertised, the board approved the variance with a 5-0 vote.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve minutes of the July 8 meeting: passed (motion made and seconded; roll call recorded as unanimous). - Variance request (Item 2.1): motion to approve reducing the front building setback from 30 feet to 25 feet at 54 North Main Street (Map 080B, Group C, Parcel 021); mover and seconder recorded on the record; outcome: approved, 5-0.
The board closed the hearing on the item after taking the vote. At the meeting’s end staff noted no other items were currently scheduled for the next month; the board also reviewed required training videos and a calendar-year training deadline.
