Marshall County BZA unanimously approves variance for portable 16-by-20 shed on corner lot

The Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 13 approved a variance to allow a 16-by-20 portable shed to remain on a corner parcel owned by Dennis Denninger and used by applicant Don Lewis.

Staff and the Technical Review Committee recommended approval after presenting maps and photos showing two adjacent lots at the intersection of East Shore Drive and 4 B Road and three existing nonresidential structures. The staff presentation concluded: "staff and TRC recommend approval of the request." The variance would allow a secondary structure (a portable shed) to be located on the lot before construction of any primary residence.

Don Lewis, who identified himself as the requester, told the board he does not live at the property and provided a separate mailing address in South Bend, Indiana. He said he had a "lifetime lease" arrangement with the property owner. "I got a lease on it for life," Lewis said.

Board members asked about lot lines, whether previous structures were preexisting and whether restroom facilities existed on the site. Staff noted one structure already encroaches across a property line and said the lots are used primarily for storage, with landscape screening and buffering mitigating impacts on neighboring parcels.

After opening a public hearing and soliciting comment, the board recorded no members of the public wishing to speak and closed the hearing. A board member moved to approve the variance and the chair called a roll call. Each member responded in the affirmative and the motion carried.

The decision was procedural: the board approved the variance request with the understanding the portable shed was temporary and that the applicant might have to move it in the future. No conditions or follow-up reporting requirements were recorded in the transcript beyond the standard findings and staff recommendation.

The board moved on to other business after the vote.