Board of Zoning Appeals Division 2 acknowledges multiple continuances, accepts one withdrawal and schedules cases for June 10 hearing

The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 2 acknowledged several automatic continuances, accepted a petition withdrawal and continued multiple cases to the June 10, 2025 hearing.

Staff told the board that registered neighborhood organizations and petitioners had filed timely automatic continuances for several matters and that one petitioner asked to withdraw a case. Acting Chairperson James Duke and board members acknowledged the items and the docket was set for the June 10, 2025 hearing.

Why it matters: The continuances move discrete land-use and signage requests to the next Division 2 hearing, delaying any substantive rulings on variances or permitted uses. Some continuances were filed by neighborhood organizations; at least one was requested by staff for lack of timely public notice.

The board acknowledged automatic continuances for these special-request cases: 2025DV2009 (4925 Decatur Boulevard) and 2025DV2014 (412 Pine Drive). Staff also requested a continuance for cause for 2025UV2006 (5060 East 60 Second Street) citing late public notice; the board acknowledged that continuance. The board acknowledged a timely automatic continuance for 2025UV2007 (6248 Lisonbee Road). For each of those items staff indicated no additional notice was required unless otherwise noted.

A petitioner’s representative, Joe Calder, asked that case 2025DB2013 (3524 North Meridian Street) be continued to the June 10 hearing because the petitioner and staff were still resolving a requested change to the type of sign proposed. Calder said the continuance should be “with notice if necessary.” Staff indicated no objection and the board continued the item.

Staff reported that petitioner withdrew case 2025DB2010 (2001 East Pleasant Parkway / 1500 Villa Avenue); the board acknowledged the withdrawal.

The board also listed several petitions that will be automatically continued to the June 10, 2025 hearing and read key variance requests into the record. Those items include:

- Case 2025DV2-012 (3421 North Keystone Avenue). Petitioner: Indianapolis Public Schools (represented by Russell McClure). Request: variance of development standards in the consolidated zoning and subdivision ordinance for a parking area within the front yard that would contain two double-loaded rows and three single-loaded rows (staff language indicates a limit to one single-loaded row) and for a 6-foot-tall fence within the front yard where a maximum 3.5-foot fence is permitted.

- Case 2025DV2-015 (5364 North New Jersey Street). Petitioners: David and Courtney Rankenmeyer (represented in the record by David and Justin Kingen). Request: variance to allow a 6-foot-tall fence in the northern yard where a 3.5-foot maximum is permitted.

- Case 2025UV2-001 (amended) (2454 North Illinois Street). Petitioner listed as Sharif Nassim (represented by Justin King/Justin Kingen/Justin Kingham in the transcript). Staff read a request described in the record as a variance of use and development standards to allow either an HVAC commercial contractor use or C-1 uses (both noted as not permitted in that zoning), a parking area with a 0-foot side-yard setback where 4 feet is required, an apparent request related to a front-yard width greater than 30 feet along Fall Creek Parkway Drive South and Illinois Street (transcript language unclear), and a 12-square-foot wall sign on the eastern elevation where the maximum sign area was read as 3% of the front elevation.

No formal votes or motions on merits of any variances were taken; the items were continued or acknowledged as procedural actions. Staff noted the board requires three votes to take action on any request; no roll-call votes were recorded for the continuances or the withdrawal.

The hearing concluded after staff completed the docket and the acting chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Speakers quoted or specifically identified in the hearing are listed below in the article metadata.