Board approves subdivision variance to split one lot with three houses at 410 South Main Street

The Willard Board of Adjustments voted to approve a subdivision variance at its Aug. 15 meeting that will clear the way for creating separate legal parcels from a single lot that currently contains three single-family houses at 410 South Main Street.

Unidentified Speaker 1 summarized the project: the lot contains three pre-existing houses built before current lot-splitting rules, producing nonconforming setbacks, buildings that encroach on adjacent property lines in places, and title/marketability problems that make the property "unsellable" in its present configuration. Project surveyor Craig Wells told the board the proposed minor subdivision and lot-line adjustments would bring the parcels closer to conformity, provide individual utilities to each house, and allocate frontage and easements so each dwelling can be sold separately. Wells said the plan gives each lot roughly 75 feet of frontage and relies on two 26-foot access easements serving rear lots.

Board members asked whether any demolition was planned; Unidentified Speaker 1 and others clarified the houses are existing and the plan does not require demolition under the current proposal, but noted that any future demolition or major remodel would require bring the site into full compliance with setback rules. The board discussed flood-zone status (staff said they had not specifically checked but believed the properties are downtown and likely not in a flood zone) and confirmed that utilities are separate for each dwelling.

Unidentified Speaker 5 read the four legal findings the board must make to recommend a subdivision variance: (1) unusual circumstances affecting the property that strict application of the regulations would deprive the owner of reasonable use; (2) the variance is necessary to preserve enjoyment of a substantial property right; (3) granting the variance would not be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare or injurious to nearby properties; and (4) the variance would not conflict with the intent of the subdivision and platting provisions of the code. Several board members said the situation — houses predating the city's lot split rules — fits the spirit of those findings because the existing development pattern limits reasonable use.

Unidentified Speaker 4 moved to approve the subdivision variance "based on the four points that we've discussed here this evening." The motion received a first and a second. A roll-call-style approval followed; affirmative responses were recorded and the board approved the variance. Staff will draft formal findings reflecting the board’s discussion and forward the recommendation to the Board of Aldermen, which has final authority to approve the subdivision.

Quotes capturing the committee's tone included project surveyor Craig Wells: "We've met with the fire department about the access particularly to that Eastern Building. They're satisfied" and an observing board member: "We think we've done a reasonable job of taking an awkward situation and making it better." The motion to approve was made and seconded in open session; the recorded responses during the vote were recorded verbally in the meeting transcript.

The board adjourned after completing the vote and asked members to take meeting materials home and familiarize themselves with the board packet.