BZA approves reduced perimeter landscaping for Brownsburg High School athletics project

The Town of Brownsburg Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 8 approved a development standards variance for 1005 S. Odell Street (BZA case BZDV 25-3) that allows a low-intensity landscape buffer around the high school’s East Athletics complex instead of the moderate buffer specified in the Unified Development Ordinance.

Staff presented the request as a development-standards variance under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and reviewed the three required findings: that the variance would not be injurious to public health, safety or welfare; that neighboring property values would not be substantially affected; and that strict application of the UDO would result in practical difficulties. Ethan (staff member) told the board the site is institutional (IS) zoning, covers more than 20 acres, and that the applicant seeks the lowest buffer option in the ordinance matrix (a roughly 10-foot planting zone with specified tree/shrub spacing) rather than the moderate option (roughly 15 feet with denser planting).

Fred Paraiso of Context Design, the project designer, told the board the request is intended to maintain continuity with earlier phases of the high school project and to avoid dense low-level plantings that, in the applicant’s view, could create hiding spots and interfere with campus supervision and field operations. Paraiso said the project will include a perimeter fence (a separate variance request in the same meeting) and that plantings would be coordinated with the school’s maintenance needs.

Residents raised questions about the fence location and ongoing maintenance. Mike Monk, who lives near the south field, asked whether the fence would be moved closer to private yards; Paraiso and staff responded the proposed fence alignment in the concept plan remains set back from neighbors and that approximately 20 feet of green space would remain in the south quadrant. Scott Vohringer asked whether existing trees (silver maples) would remain; Paraiso said the project has not asked for credit for existing trees and that new plantings would be provided per the ordinance requirements. Staff and the applicant confirmed that maintenance of school-owned landscaping would be the school’s responsibility and that property surveys and construction documents to be submitted at later review stages will show exact dimensions.

Board members discussed the practical-difficulty standard in the UDO and whether safety and operational concerns at athletic facilities justify a reduced buffer. Several board members expressed that the lower buffer paired with fencing could reasonably address security and maintenance issues, noting that other high school phases were built with similar buffers under earlier standards. Staff recommended approval and the board moved and approved the variance (motion passed).

The board closed the public hearing on the case and approved the variance as presented. The applicant still must submit construction documents and obtain APC and permitting approvals that will document exact fence location, plant species, and maintenance responsibilities.