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Indianapolis zoning board grants variance for freestanding ATM at church parking lot
Summary
The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 3 granted a variance allowing a freestanding National Bank of Indianapolis ATM in a parking lot adjacent to New Direction Church at 5284 East 30th Street North Drive, despite staff recommendation to deny because the site lies in a transit‑oriented overlay.
The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals, Division 3, granted a variance on June 17, 2025, allowing a freestanding automated teller machine (ATM) on property identified as 5284 East 30th Street North Drive, a parcel associated with New Direction Church.
The three-member board voted unanimously to approve the request after hearing testimony from the petitioner and several community supporters. The variance was necessary because the zoning code treats freestanding ATMs as accessory uses and does not permit them as a primary use on a separate structure in the relevant district.
The bank's attorney, Joseph D. Calderon, described the project as a community partnership between National Bank of Indianapolis and New Direction Church, saying the ATM would complement on-site programs including financial-literacy classes and down-payment assistance. "For the better part of a year, representatives of the bank and members of the church began discussing ways to improve the community," Calderon told the board, and he asked the board to adopt the petitioner's findings of fact by reference.
Residents and elected officials also addressed the board in support. Ashley Gervitz, a resident and community development volunteer, said the ATM would "enhance" access to banking services in a corridor the community views as commercially planned. City-County Councilor Keith Graves, who represents District 9, urged approval, saying the community lacks traditional bank branches and that the partnership with National Bank of Indianapolis brings "restoration and hope." City-County Council member Bob Osely called the proposal a model of community banking that could expand access for unbanked residents.
City planning staff recommended denial. Senior planner Michael Weigel told the board the ordinance treats freestanding ATMs as accessory uses that must be incorporated into a primary building or an accessory drive-through so as to encourage compact, walkable development and to preserve public surveillance and sightlines. He also noted the site lies within a transit-oriented development overlay adopted to coordinate higher-density, walkable development with public transit investment. "Development patterns and site designs that prioritize automobile travel, such as... freestanding ATMs without a primary building, undermine those public and private investments," Weigel said, and recommended denial.
Petitioners and supporters told the board the structure would be modest in size and designed to fit the corridor, that it is intended to serve community banking needs rather than to maximize profit, and that bank representatives plan additional community services. Attorney Calderon and other speakers said the ATM is setback from the Purple/Indigo Line transit alignment and will not interfere with transit infrastructure.
On the recorded vote, Brian Hannon voted yes, Joanna Taft voted yes, and Rhianna Binder voted yes; the variance was granted.
Board members and staff noted the decision was narrowly framed to this site and to the requested freestanding ATM; staff retains enforcement authority over compliance with any conditions attached to a granted variance. The petitioner incorporated findings of fact into the record and the board adopted the variance.
