Fishers BZA permits lower roof pitch for home on Haven Cove Lane

The Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 27 approved a variance allowing a decrease in minimum roof pitch from 5/12 to 4/12 for a proposed single-family home at 13283 Haven Cove Lane.

Daniel Davis, president of Air Homes, said the design is a contemporary style that would be difficult to achieve if forced to a steeper roof pitch; he and the developer provided photographs of nearby homes with similar pitches. City planner Grace Wiley told the board the property is in a planned unit development regulated by the Marina PUD ordinance and that staff recommended approval with the condition that the approval letter and related documentation be recorded with the Hamilton County recorder’s office. No public comments were received.

Board members noted that modern and flatter roof lines have become more common in new construction and asked whether the city was considering a broader change to the Unified Development Ordinance. Grace Wiley said staff is reviewing roof-pitch standards as part of a recent UDO update that already allowed flat roofs in some circumstances and that the city expects to finalize recommendations in the next three to four months to reduce the number of similar variance requests.

A motion to approve the variance (listed in the record as VA-25-13) passed by roll call vote with Mister Grinsley, Mister Silvey, Mister Lannon and Mister Ferrucci recorded in favor. The board included the same recordation condition noted for other approvals. The meeting adjourned after staff provided a brief calendar note that the next BZA meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Theater.

Daniel Davis and the developer Rob Bussell provided supporting letters and images of nearby houses showing similar low pitches; staff presented proposed elevations showing the 4/12 pitch. The board did not receive public testimony on the petition and approved the variance with the recording condition.