Fishers BZA approves reduction in minimum roof pitch for Haven Cove home

The Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals voted on Aug. 27, 2025, to grant a variance reducing the minimum roof pitch from 5/12 to 4/12 for a proposed single-family home at 13283 Haven Cove Lane.

Daniel Hayes, president of Air Homes and representing the builder, told the board the house design is a more modern style that features a lower roof pitch. Hayes said multiple nearby houses already have 4/12 pitches or flatter and that changing the pitch to meet the 5/12 standard would disrupt the home’s design; he said the requested change is primarily aesthetic and would not affect drainage.

Planner Grace Biley presented the staff report, which noted the lot is zoned PUDM (Marina PUD ordinance referenced) and that proposed elevations show the 4/12 pitch. She told the board no public comments had been received and that staff recommended approval provided the approval letter and related documentation are recorded with the Hamilton County recorder’s office.

In questioning, a board member asked whether the city is considering broader UDO changes on roof pitch; staff responded that a UDO update earlier in the year already allowed flat roofs and that the planning department is continuing discussion on roof-pitch standards and expects to finalize an approach in the next three to four months, which informed staff support for this petition.

A motion to approve the variance with the recording condition passed on a roll-call vote recorded by the chair. The board’s recorded votes were affirmative and the motion passed.

The board’s approval is conditioned on the county recordation described by staff. Staff indicated it will finalize any broader UDO language changes on roof pitch in forthcoming months to guide future petitions.