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Zoning Board Grants Setback and Landscape Variances for New Community Bank and Drive‑thru at 4000 State Route 31
Summary
The Clay Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved two area variances April 13 to reduce a side‑yard setback from 75 to 44 feet and a perimeter landscape strip from 30 to 25 feet to permit a Community Bank building and drive‑thru in an existing plaza; County comments will be addressed at later site plan hearings.
The Town of Clay Zoning Board of Appeals on April 13 granted area variances to allow a new Community Bank building and accessory drive‑thru at 4000 State Route 31.
Erik Turner, representing Community Bank, and Lisa Wennberg, project manager with Keplinger Freeman Associates, presented the proposal to construct a new bank on a pad at the eastern edge of an existing commercial plaza. Wennberg said the design requires reducing the required side‑yard setback from 75 feet to 44 feet and shrinking the site perimeter landscape strip from 30 feet to 25 feet to fit the building and maintain circulation and compatibility with the plaza.
Wennberg addressed the five standards of proof for both variance requests, saying the departures are consistent with adjacent commercial structures and established development patterns, that alternatives were limited by the existing plaza layout and alignment of Soule Road, and that the requested deviations are not substantial and are not expected to adversely impact surrounding properties. She acknowledged the need for the variances is self‑created by the site constraints.
Planning & Development Commissioner Brian Bender said the Planning Department received no remonstrance and noted that referral comments from the County were received and are more applicable to forthcoming Special Permit and Site Plan hearings.
Member Michael Becker moved to approve the variances subject to substantial compliance with Exhibit A; David Porter seconded. Roll call votes by Mary Lou DesRosier, David Porter, Michael Becker and Chairperson Vivian Mason were recorded as in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
The approvals allow the applicant to advance to the Special Permit and Site Plan review process and to pursue any required building permits, with outstanding County referral comments to be addressed during those subsequent hearings.
