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Anderson board approves oversized detached garage at 1707 Laura Street
Summary
On Aug. 6, 2025, the Anderson City zoning board approved a variance allowing a 1,200-square-foot detached garage at 1707 Laura Street, exceeding the local ordinance limit; the vote was 4-0.
ANDERSON, Ind. — At a meeting Aug. 6, 2025, the Anderson City Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance for a detached, oversized metal storage garage at 1707 Laura Street, voting 4-0 to allow a 30-by-40-foot, 18-foot-high structure that will total about 1,200 square feet.
The variance, petition 11-25, was requested by petitioner Joseph Goodman to permit the three-door structure in the southwest corner of his rear yard. Planning staff told the board the proposed building would exceed the city’s accessory-structure size limit (864 square feet) by 336 square feet but recommended approval, noting the petitioner owns roughly one-third of an acre and staff does not expect the building to create sight-line issues for neighbors.
Staff described the garage as a 30x40x18-foot metal building with twin 10-by-12 overhead doors and one 12-by-12 overhead door, with all doors facing the house’s back wall. The petitioner listed items he intends to store in the structure: two motorcycles, an 18-foot boat, a golf cart, a riding mower, a 2013 Jeep, and a 16-foot hauling trailer. Staff also said the petitioner was advised the detached garage may not be used for business activity.
Planning staff said certified-mail notices were sent July 21 and a legal advertisement ran July 26. A neighbor to the rear submitted a letter of support, and one neighbor, Ron Branham of 1719 Laura Street, spoke in favor of the petition at the meeting, calling the Goodmans “excellent” caretakers of their property.
A board member moved to approve petition 11-25, submitting the petitioner’s findings of fact with the motion. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll call with board members recorded as voting yes: Grubbs, Spencer, Mrs. Williams and Williams. The board advised Goodman to see the planning department for required permits before construction.
Goodman told the board he hoped to begin construction in the fall, or in the spring if schedules required, and that he planned to pour a concrete driveway to access the building. He also said he obtained contractor quotes but had not finalized a contract because he awaited formal approval of the requested size.
The board’s approval allows the petitioner to proceed with permit applications but does not waive other permit or curb-cut approvals required by the city.
