Board approves warehouse expansion at 222 Bodark Street, grants alley-setback variance

The Abilene Board of Adjustments approved a special exception and variance allowing owners Mauro Omar and Rubella Ortiz to connect and expand existing nonconforming structures at 222 Bodark Street and to reduce the alley setback to zero feet where 25 feet is required.

Clarissa Ivy, planner for the City of Abilene, said the property is in a Light Industrial zone and is surrounded by older structures; the existing buildings date to 1939 and are legal nonconformities. Ivy said the proposal connects the main front building to two rear structures and would maintain a 32-foot separation from an adjacent residence to the north. She said staff sent notifications and received two letters in favor and no opposition.

Jeremy Wright of Mayhem Solutions, the applicant’s representative, said the project will enclose existing open storage in the rear buildings, create taller central warehouse space for racking, and provide a loading dock so trucks can back up and load directly. “We’re wanting to make that center section taller so we can do a lot more storage and racking,” Wright said. He added the applicant intends to keep the nonconforming rear portion at the existing height so the project does not increase existing impacts along the back alley.

Board members discussed whether the alley was physically blocked and whether the alley had been formally abandoned; Ivy said maps show an alley but that the north portion is currently not passable and there was no record she found of the city formally abandoning it. Board members noted that the area’s age and built conditions limit alternate locations for expanding the business and that enclosing the storage could improve functionality and security for equipment.

A motion to approve the special exception and variance, citing the staff findings and the practical hardship created by existing building placement, carried on a unanimous roll call. Miss Donaway, Mister Sintek, Miss Rizzi, Mister Haverd and Mister Loudermill were recorded as voting yes.

The approval allows the owner to proceed with the proposed building changes subject to any required permits; as noted by board procedural guidance earlier in the meeting, an applicant granted relief must obtain any required building permit within 180 days and the board decision may be appealed to a court of record within 10 days.