Board approves front-yard setback variance for 115 Arrowhead Drive restaurant

The board considered an ordinance to approve a front-yard setback variance at 115 Arrowhead Drive to permit construction of a separate restaurant building adjacent to an existing hotel. Staff said the Plan Commission held a public hearing on Sept. 23 and recommended approval on a 4-3 vote after debating whether to grant a setback variance or a parking-stall reduction.

Staff recommended the front-yard variance rather than reducing parking because they wanted to preserve stall counts for hotel patrons and restaurant customers. Petitioners told trustees they prefer seating close to the street and showed renderings; they also provided turning-radius documentation to address earlier questions from fire and public-safety staff.

Trustees asked for verification of the posted speed limit on the roadway (staff said it is believed to be 35 mph but would verify), confirmed the building would be separate from the hotel with a breezeway and discussed the proposed reduction from a 25-foot setback to 10 feet. After discussion and confirmation that staff and plan commission had reviewed safety and parking impacts, a motion to approve the ordinance variance was made and passed.

The item will proceed with the approved setback; the transcript records the board's approval but does not include a detailed roll-call tally in the record provided.