Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Accessory Structure Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Zionsville board approves taller two-story garage for large rural lot despite staff reservations
Summary
Despite staff recommending denial, the Zionsville board approved a variance to allow a 27 ft 11 in two-story accessory garage at 4520 South 975 East, citing the lot’s nearly seven-acre size, storage needs, and limited visibility from neighbors.
The Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a height variance on March 4 to allow a two-story accessory garage measuring 27 ft 11 3/4 in at 4520 South 975 East.
Jonathan, Town planning staff, explained the accessory building maximum height in the RSF2 district is 22 feet and noted the proposed garage exceeds that cap; staff recommended denial because the petitioner had not shown ‘‘unnecessary hardship’’ under the ordinance. Staff added that the petition otherwise met applicable development standards, that public notice was completed, and that the town had received multiple letters of support.
Roger Burrus, representing property owners Mark and Jude Miller, said the Millers’ property is roughly 6.7 acres, largely wooded and set back from the road, and argued the proposed structure would be subordinate and largely invisible to neighbors. Burrus said the existing garage is nonconforming at about 23 feet, that nearby larger barn structures had been approved in 2020, and that practical maintenance needs on a six-acre lot justify additional storage space.
Several board members agreed the RSF2 height cap was intended for half-acre and 1-acre lots and said the 6.7-acre parcel is atypical; members noted equipment and maintenance needs on large lots and that allowing the taller replacement structure could improve functionality without harming neighbors. One member observed the proposed building ‘‘adds value’’ and would be consistent with the primary residence’s scale.
A motion to approve docket 2026-03DSV (exceed maximum accessory height at 4520 South 975 East) passed on a voice/roll-call vote. Staff said it would issue a letter of grant and that the petitioner could proceed with demolition and a building permit after receiving the written decision.
The board’s approval contrasts with staff’s recommendation and highlights the panel’s willingness to weigh lot size, visibility, and existing nonconformities when applying the accessory-height limit in the RSF2 district.
