The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 4 unanimously denied a petition asking to reduce setbacks and permit two industrial buildings with expanded parking at 8415 West Washington.

Petitioner Greg Dotson proposed two buildings on a 3.5‑acre site and sought reductions from the I-1 district standards — from a 30‑foot side yard setback to 10 feet and from a 50‑foot transitional yard to 40 feet — to create more tenant bays and a three‑row central parking layout. Dotson said his experience developing nearby steel buildings supported the requested relief and described precedent at adjacent properties.

Representatives of the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Indy Gateway neighborhood organization opposed the request. Brian Tuohy, speaking for the airport, said the current site plan shows about 90 parking spaces "which is way more than the 37 parking spaces that are required by the ordinance," and he said the two‑building, 90‑space plan would overdevelop the site and potentially harm adjoining airport property. The airport also noted its large property holdings that border the subject parcel and described the site as an important corridor for airport access.

Staff recommended denial. The planning report states the site can be developed in compliance with I‑1 standards without variances — for example, with one building and fewer parking spaces — and characterized the petitioner's request as a self‑imposed hardship created by the decision to increase building size and parking demand. Staff noted a previously submitted plan that showed only 60 parking spaces and said a compliant plan is feasible without reducing setbacks.

During deliberation, board members asked about site history, the number of tenant bays and parking calculations. The petitioner maintained that neighborhood development includes similar buildings and that patron parking can be intensive. Remonstrators emphasized airport adjacency and the potential for heavier traffic and intensified use if the variance were granted.

The board recorded unanimous "no" votes from Jennifer Witt, Andrew Catona, Peter Nelson and David Duncan; the variance was not granted.