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Lancaster Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approves variances for residences, businesses and dealership expansion
Summary
At its March 9 meeting the Board of Zoning Appeals granted eight area or use variances — including reduced alley setbacks for accessory structures, permission for a contractor office, new signage for Ace Hardware, an accessory dwelling unit approval, and variances for expansions at Buckeye Honda and Don’s Furniture — all by unanimous roll-call votes.
The Lancaster Board of Zoning Appeals met March 9, 2024, and voted unanimously to grant area and use variances in eight separate cases affecting residential and commercial properties across the city.
Most significant among the actions, the Board approved two commercial projects and several residential variances. The Board granted Buckeye Honda permission to increase lot coverage to approximately 86% and to use less than the code-required 80% of natural or natural-mimicking materials for a new dealership campus behind the existing building; the design team said the overall project will use about 44% natural materials and will combine two lots as part of the plan. The Board also approved variances for Don’s Furniture to locate an expanded showroom in line with the existing building (front setback reduced to 4 feet 9 inches, side setbacks reduced to 1.5 feet and 8 inches) and to limit required off-street parking to the existing 27 spaces (46 spaces are required by code), with the variance explicitly limited to Don’s Furniture.
In commercial signage relief, Ace Hardware’s owner said three 18-square-foot wall signs had already been installed beneath the primary 114-square-foot logo sign because “the sign installer misunderstood the timing for installation and had already installed the signs prior to the BZA meeting.” The Board approved those additional signs and the extra 54 square feet of wall signage as submitted and limited by the application.
Residential cases included approval of area variances for two accessory structures: a shed at 304 South Maple Street that sits 7.5 feet from an alley where the code requires 20 feet, and a 24-by-24-foot detached garage at 1214 East Chestnut Street proposed at a 12-foot alley setback (the garage application stated the structure would include a concrete floor and be used for work on the owner’s personal vehicles, with access from the alley and no off‑garage parking planned). The Board also granted a use variance permitting a contractor office at 402 East Locust Street after the owner said the property previously housed contractor and tenant uses under the former Commercial General zoning.
The Board approved a use variance allowing a detached accessory dwelling unit at 308 Wheat Street after the applicant said the garage apartment existed at purchase, has a separate electric meter and will be occupied by the owner; the approval was conditioned on any off‑street parking being on an impervious surface. Another residential variance allowed construction of a new home at 330 East Wheeling Street with a 49-foot front setback and approximately 61% impervious lot coverage, both larger than the RT district limits.
All motions were passed by unanimous roll-call votes. Recorded members present were Chairman Tim Oatney and members Rebecca Anderson, Tom James and Melody Bobbitt. City staff attendees listed in the record included Assistant Law Director Mitch Harden; Mayor Don McDaniel; Service Safety Director Carrie Woody; City Planner Chasilyn Carter; Zoning Inspectors Andrew Lundell and Kevin Funk; and Administrative Assistant Kendra Brown.
The Board took no dissenting votes and signed entries for each approved variance; the meeting adjourned after the final motion.
