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Lancaster Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approves two area variances for home addition and recovery center sign
Summary
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Board of Zoning Appeals approved an area variance allowing a homeowners' addition at 2460 Sheridan Drive to increase lot coverage to about 52% (over the 35% R‑MD limit) and a 28‑sq.‑ft. wall sign for First Step Recovery Center at 401 Washington Ave; both votes were unanimous.
The Lancaster Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Aug. 11 to grant two area variances: one allowing a 15-by-28-foot addition that would increase lot coverage at 2460 Sheridan Drive to about 52%, and another permitting a 28-square-foot wall sign for First Step Recovery Center at 401 Washington Ave.
The board met at 2 p.m. in the 1897 Room. Chairman Tim Oatney presided and swore in everyone who intended to speak. Board members present were Rebecca Anderson, Melody Bobbitt and Tim Oatney; city staff in attendance included Mitch Harden, Assistant Law Director; Don McDaniel, Mayor; Carrie Woody, Service Safety Director; Andrew Lundell, Zoning Inspector; and Kendra Brown, Administrative Assistant.
In BZA Case No. 768, Gordon Keen of Elevated Integrity Construction applied on behalf of homeowners Keith and Penny Schwickerath to construct a roughly 15-by-28-foot (420 sq. ft.) room addition on an existing concrete pad at 2460 Sheridan Drive. The property is zoned R‑MD (Residential Medium Density), where Lancaster Codified Ordinances § 1129.03 limits maximum lot coverage to 35%. Keen said the existing lot coverage is approximately 48% and the proposed addition would raise total coverage to about 52%. There were no communications or objections from City staff and no public commenters. Member Melody Bobbitt moved to grant the variance; Rebecca Anderson seconded. The Board voted unanimously by roll call to approve the variance.
In BZA Case No. 769, Krupal Gor of First Step Recovery Center requested a variance to install a 2-by-14-foot (28 sq. ft.) wall sign on the eastern side of the building at 401 Washington Ave. The site is in an RT (Residential Transitional) district; Lancaster Codified Ordinances § 1145.06 limits wall signs for special-exception uses in RT districts to 12 square feet. Andrea Russell of JAR Graphic Design described the replacement sign as “a non-illuminated flat panel sign about 1/4 inch thick.” As with the first case, there were no communications from the City and no members of the public spoke for or against the request. Member Rebecca Anderson moved to approve the sign variance; Melody Bobbitt seconded, and the Board voted unanimously.
After the two variance decisions, Chairman Oatney proposed and the Board approved a motion to designate Melody Bobbitt as temporary president to preside if Oatney is absent. The Board then voted to adjourn.
Votes at a glance: the Board unanimously approved (3–0) the procedural approval of the July 14, 2025 minutes; BZA Case No. 768 (area variance for 2460 Sheridan Drive) was approved by roll call (yes: Rebecca Anderson, Melody Bobbitt, Tim Oatney); BZA Case No. 769 (area variance for 401 Washington Ave sign) was approved by roll call (yes: Rebecca Anderson, Melody Bobbitt, Tim Oatney); the temporary-president designation passed by unanimous vote; the meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.
What this means: the homeowners at 2460 Sheridan Drive may proceed with the proposed addition subject to any standard permits and inspections; First Step Recovery Center may replace its wall sign with the larger flat‑panel sign described to the board. The board record shows no objections from city staff or members of the public on either application.
