Gallatin Board of Zoning Appeals approves three land‑use requests

The Gallatin Board of Zoning Appeals, meeting in Gallatin, approved three land‑use requests, granting a setback and lot‑coverage variance at 944 Lakeshore Drive, issuing a conditional use permit for Cedars Paradise Crossing at 707 West Eastland Street, and approving a variance to allow barbed wire on top of perimeter security fencing for a 13.84‑acre industrial parcel (Project Lasso).

The planning staff and applicants presented each item in turn. Brad Hickman, a city staff planner, described the Lakeshore Drive property as a pre‑ordinance house in the Leland Heights subdivision and said the planning department recommended denial of the variance request. The resolution (GMBZA Resolution 2025‑004) sought an 11.61‑foot variance from the 20‑foot east side yard setback, a 4.59‑foot variance from the 20‑foot west side yard setback and 1,087 square feet (about 4.7 percent) of additional lot coverage above the 15 percent maximum for the 0.53‑acre parcel identified as Tax Map 136D A007.00 in R‑40 (low‑density residential). Seth Neal, representing Upscale Construction, described the work as adding a forward‑facing garage and enclosing an existing deck to create a sunroom, and said staff and stormwater review were ongoing.

Resident Rick Murphy spoke in support of the neighbors, and Albert “Chip” Fielding, the property owner at 944 Lakeshore…