Board approves amended variance for Edison Road property after debate over unpermitted 'hoop' building

The St. Joseph County Area Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 11 approved an amended variance allowing the owner at 23910 Edison Road to rebuild a detached garage and retain two existing accessory structures, resolving a contested application about whether unpermitted ‘hoop’ and enclosed structures should count toward permitted accessory square footage.

Area Plan Commission staff told the board the property’s original garage was built in 1949 and damaged beyond repair in a fire; the petitioner requested a 4,116-square-foot detached accessory area where the county ordinance permits a maximum of 1,100 square feet. Staff reported two additional unpermitted accessory buildings on the lot — roughly 2,100 sq ft and 864 sq ft — and said because those were constructed without permits the property likely lacks legal nonconforming protection. Staff outlined three options for the board: deny the variance (which would require…