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St. Joseph County board approves loading‑dock variance for Razor 5 LLC data center, subject to staff conditions
Summary
The Area Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing loading spaces between the front lot line and building facade for a campus logistics building serving a new data center, citing unusual lot geometry and safety benefits. The approval was subject to staff‑recommended conditions and the submitted site plan.
The St. Joseph County Area Board of Zoning Appeals on June 12 approved a variance that will let Razor 5 LLC place truck loading lanes between the front lot line and the front facade of a campus logistics building serving a proposed data center.
Staff planner Sean Klein told the board that the parcel effectively has multiple front yards and that locating loading docks behind every front façade would be impractical. Klein said the proposed configuration would keep truck traffic set back — “120 feet from Elderberry Road and 320 feet from Edison Road” — and be screened with landscaping to limit visual impact while separating trucks from pedestrian areas.
Steven Studer, an attorney representing Razor 5 LLC, told the board the orientation change is a safety and security response to site geometry and pedestrian flow. “We’re trying to prevent conflicts between trucks and employees of the site,” Studer said, and added the loading configuration is an internal safety measure that will be well screened from public rights of way.
Several neighbors questioned the timing and the scale of the project. Dan Caruso, who said he had spoken at the county commissioners’ meeting, criticized the developer for altering site plans after clearing and asked whether the company was seeking special treatment. Studer replied that the building at issue has not been permitted and that the company is following the ordinance by seeking a variance.
After discussion about limiting the variance to the site plan presented and to include staff conditions (screening and timing requirements as noted in the staff report), the board voted to grant the variance subject to those staff conditions. The board instructed staff to prepare written findings of fact.
What happens next: Staff will prepare and issue written findings stating the variance conditions; construction of the logistics building cannot proceed for the loading configuration until permits and any required conditions are satisfied.
