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Zionsville BZA conditionally approves variance to reduce road frontage to 20 feet at Stonegate parcel
Summary
The Board conditionally approved a development-standards variance to reduce the 45-foot road-frontage requirement to 20 feet at 6724 West Stonegate Drive, allowing construction of a single-family home provided the petitioner secures written permission from the easement owner to use Block A for access.
The Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals voted to conditionally approve a request to reduce the town’s 45-foot road-frontage requirement to 20 feet for a 1‑acre parcel at 6724 West Stonegate Drive.
Staff said the parcel was created in 2004 using a statutory exemption and has no direct 45-foot frontage; the petitioner seeks to rely on a recorded Block A access and utility easement as the source of 20 feet of frontage. Planning staff judged the property to be landlocked in its current configuration, found the three variance findings met, and recommended conditional approval so long as the petitioner provides documentation of approval from the easement owner when applying for an improvement location permit (ILP).
Petitioner Eric Murray, assisted by Morgan Ree of Innovative Engineering, presented documents he said show developer intent for the parcel to have shared access via Block A and argued the hardship was created at platting, not by the current owner. "The hardship was created, not by the petitioner, but by Stonegate," Murray said, referencing developer paperwork he submitted.
Neighbors voiced objections. Maren Murphy, whose property adjoins the shared drive, told the board the physical usable width at the curb is about 11 feet and said the drive was designed for two households, not a third. "I respectfully ask that the board declines the variance request," she said. Other neighbors cited concerns about neighborhood character, construction disruptions and whether the parcel should participate in the Stonegate HOA.
Petitioner representatives said utility providers confirmed service could be extended through the recorded easement and offered to accept HOA requirements and architectural guidelines if necessary. After discussion the board moved and approved the conditional variance by roll call; the requirement that the petitioner obtain documented approval from the easement owner will be a condition of the building permit submittal.
Next steps: the petitioner must provide easement-owner approval with the ILP application and coordinate required building and utility work to meet code.
