Planning Commission approves Boat Town Liquor site plan contingent on four ZBA variances

The Harrison Township Planning Commission on Nov. 20, 2025 approved a revised site plan for Boat Town Liquor at 35550 and 35542 Jefferson Ave, contingent on the Zoning Board of Appeals granting four requested variances.

Township Planner Adam Young described the revised plans as including updated floor-area calculations, new signage details, a decorative screen wall, the addition of a fire lane, revised parking calculations and updated landscaping quantities. Young said the applicant must seek four variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals: the total number of required parking spaces, permission for off-street parking within the front yard in the V-1 district, a deviation from the build-to line (between 53 and 63 feet from center line), and relief to allow the building addition to encroach into the minimum rear setback.

Representative Imad Potres, of C K Construction, was present for the applicant. Township Engineer John Tanner said the applicant must coordinate with the township on sanitary sewer connections and with the county regarding any storm manholes.

Commissioner Tim Duncan moved to approve Case #23-25-S Boat Town Liquor based on the site plan dated Nov. 18, 2025; Ken Mulder supported the motion. The approval was explicitly conditioned on the Zoning Board of Appeals approving all four variances identified in the planner’s November 13, 2025 letter; if any variance is denied or changes are required the applicant may return to the Planning Commission to resubmit the plan. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from Duncan, Mulder, Bacha, Devlin, Tomenello, Oparka and Murray; there were no nays and the motion carried.

Next steps: the applicant will apply to the Township Zoning Board of Appeals for the four variances; the commission’s approval does not take effect if the ZBA denies any required variance.