Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals OKs eight variances including digital billboard, accessory buildings and retail setback reductions

The Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 18 approved eight variance requests affecting signs, accessory buildings, parking and setbacks across the city.

The board, meeting at the Civic Center Complex, granted each petition by recorded roll call votes; all eight items passed with five votes in favor and none opposed. Several items were routine site or signage adjustments; one drew public objection after the applicant had begun construction before receiving the required height variance.

The board’s actions included permission to replace a static billboard with a digital display within 300 feet of residences, approval of multiple accessory structures that exceed the height of their associated houses, expanded on-site signage for a financial institution, reduced green-space requirements for additional truck parking at an existing warehouse, and setbacks reduced to allow new multi-tenant retail in the Promenade area.

Most petitions drew no remonstrators at the hearing. The notable exception was VARDash2025-071 (5300 Victoria Lane), where neighbors objected that a pole-barn structure already erected on site exceeded the height allowed for an accessory structure and that they believed the building permit process had been unclear. The board heard concerns from Brett Krieger (5301 Victoria Lane) and from Krieger’s statements that the house on the adjacent parcel is shorter than the applicant reported. The applicant’s grandson, Isaac Maynard, said he began construction after receiving a permit and later filed for the variance when inspectors measured the structure and found it taller than shown on plans. The board approved that variance.

Votes at a glance

- VARDash2025-062 — 1212 E. Columbia St. (Lamar Advertising Co., represented in hearing by Brian Botkin and Andy Morris). Requested: reduce front-yard setback from 10 ft to 3 ft; reduce minimum distance between off-premises signs on same side of a controlled-access thoroughfare from 1,000 ft to 887 ft; allow an off-premises electronic message sign within 300 ft of residences to replace an existing static billboard (proposed digital face ~203 sq ft). Outcome: approved, 5–0. (No remonstrators.)

- VARDash2025-070 — 11845 Petersburg Rd. (The Theme Properties LLC / local restaurant sign). Requested: allow on-premises electronic message sign ~150 ft from nearest residence where code requires 200 ft. Outcome: approved, 5–0. (No remonstrators recorded.)

- VARDash2025-071 — 5300 Victoria Ln. (William Birdwell). Requested: allow accessory structure (pole barn, ~1,200 sq ft) to be taller than the primary residence (approx. 4 ft taller than house). Outcome: approved, 5–0. Remonstrators raised concerns that the accessory building is already partially built, that the measured peak is about 27–28 ft, and that neighboring house heights were lower than applicant materials indicated. Applicant said the permit was pulled in good faith and that the variance was filed after inspection measurements.

- VARDash2025-072 — 9504 Darnstadt Rd. (Robert Taylor). Requested: allow accessory structure (2,400 sq ft pole barn) to exceed the residence height by ~7 ft. Outcome: approved, 5–0. (No remonstrators.)

- VARDash2025-073 — 1900 Hirschland Rd. (Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union; signage by Custom Sign & Engineering). Requested: increase maximum on-premises signage from 500 sq ft to 1,090 sq ft to accommodate additional building signage for a business with multiple storefronts/entrances. Outcome: approved, 5–0. (No remonstrators.)

- VARDash2025-074 — 2007 & 2141 Saint George Rd. (Warehouse Services No. 5 LLC; Morley Corp.). Requested: reduce interior parking-area green-space requirements (from 10 islands & 5 trees to 3 islands & 0 trees) to allow 149 additional paved parking spaces for an existing warehouse. Outcome: approved, 5–0. Applicant said they will add green space in the automobile parking area and cited operational concerns for large truck maneuvering.

- VARDash2025-075 — 1601 S. Kurth Ave. (Pinnacle Equity Holdings LLC; R. Layman & Son Consulting). Requested: multiple relaxations to convert an existing duplex property to four multifamily units, including front-yard green-space, pavement and driveway spacing exceptions. Outcome: approved, 5–0. City engineer staff had reviewed the existing stall locations and confirmed some existing stalls would remain.

- VARDash2025-076 — 1523 Florida Ct. (HBN Properties LLC; Morley Corp.). Requested: reduce required commercial-to-residential yard setbacks from 10 ft to 0 ft along east and south property lines adjacent to apartments to allow construction of a multi-tenant retail strip with drive aisles and drive-through lanes. Outcome: approved, 5–0. Applicant reported the adjacent Promenade apartment owner (CRG) reviewed the proposal and did not object; the project cleared Promenade architectural review.

What the board emphasized

Board members and staff repeatedly noted that most variances were site-specific and nonrezoning modifications: they are waivers of dimensional or performance standards, not changes to an underlying zoning district. The board also emphasized that conditions or guarantees can be attached when appropriate and that denial or withdrawal of a petition generally prevents re-filing on the same property for 12 months unless the board unanimously agrees otherwise.

Next steps

Petitioners granted variances may proceed with required permits and inspections through building services; the record shows at least one case (Victoria Lane) where an inspector measured the built structure and the petitioner then filed the variance. The board did not attach additional follow-up conditions in the hearing record for most approvals.