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BZA approves four variances, limits home-salon approval to current occupant; several items continued
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals approved a parking variance for a downtown project, authorized a one-chair home salon with conditions for the current resident, and approved several residential variances including a conversion to multifamily at 807 Mound; the board continued select Meijer access and architectural items to allow staff review.
The Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals handled a range of petitions on Oct. 21 and recorded multiple formal actions.
Old-business item variance 25-006 (Valparaiso Partners LLC) — After a presentation and follow-up, the board voted to approve the parking variance for the downtown project; the motion passed by voice vote and was recorded as carried (4–0).
Meijer/Atwell petitions (2801 Calumet Ave.) — The board approved several site-related variances (notably the reduced parking stall length and a narrower buffer yard) and a reduced monument-sign setback, but continued the more technical access-spacing variances and several architectural variances (roofline and façade articulation) to the November meeting for additional engineering and design review. Staff and petitioner were instructed to provide refined elevations, canopy/column details and a city-engineer memo on access spacing before the next hearing.
Use variance UV 25-003 (1154 Marion St.) — The board approved Ray Benson’s request to operate a one-chair hair salon from his home to accommodate family-care needs, subject to specific conditions: hours limited to Tuesday–Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; one client at a time; no signage; no employees; and the authorization limited to the current occupant. The motion passed 4–0.
Use variance UV 205-004 (807 Mound St.) — The board approved a use variance to allow conversion of an existing campus-fraternity building to multifamily residential not associated with the university; proponents said the building’s reuse supports attainable/workforce housing goals. The motion carried by recorded vote.
Variance 25-022 (254 Erie St.) — Lee and Carl Lane sought multiple variances for a small lot on the Island neighborhood (reduced front/rear setbacks, increased building and lot coverage, reduced driveway depth and steps into setbacks). Multiple neighbors spoke in favor, and the board approved the variances by roll call (4–0). Applicants said they plan modest house dimensions, a front porch and evergreen plantings in the adjacent right-of-way to improve screening.
Procedural notes and next steps — For items continued, staff will report back to the board with engineering findings and refined design documents at the November meeting. For approved variances, staff will track follow-up items (engineer sight-line reviews for signs, finalized landscape/species lists and building-permit coordination).
