Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals approves variances for Leppard Mortuary expansion

The Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals on June 22 unanimously approved four variances to permit a single‑story expansion of Leppard Mortuary at 900 North Rangeline Road.

The petitioner's attorney, John Moore, told the board the mortuary site — roughly 2 acres immediately east of Traditions on the Monon and north of the utility substation at Smoky Row and Rangeline Road — has hosted a funeral use since the 1800s and that the existing one‑story building dates to the 1950s. Moore said the project would add about 2,950 square feet to create a multipurpose room and include new landscaping, a rain garden, a water feature and benches.

Moore argued the project requires four variances from the Rangeline Road Overlay District because the existing building does not meet the district's frontage, orientation, height and setback standards. "We're asking for a variance that would mirror, substantially the same as what currently exists there along Rangeline Road," Moore said, describing an addition that would preserve the building's entrance on 10th Street Northwest rather than reorienting the façade toward Rangeline Road. He said the expansion would match the existing one‑story height (about 25 feet 6 inches) rather than the overlay's two‑story/26‑foot minimum and would remain roughly 77 feet from the property line instead of the overlay's 10‑foot setback requirement.

Moore also noted the planning and zoning office and the Department of Community Services recommended positive consideration of the variances and adoption of findings of fact, saying the addition and the planned landscaping would bring the building closer to the street and improve the corridor. "The Department of Community Services recommends positive consideration of the variance requests with the adoption of the findings of fact," Moore said.

At the meeting the staff representative reiterated that nothing further was required from the department's report and recommended approval. A board member moved to approve the variances "with the adoption of the findings of fact," the motion was seconded, and the board voted in favor with no recorded opposition. The president complimented the petitioner on the presentation, saying it was especially clear and thorough.

The four approved dockets are PZ202600101V, PZ202600102V, PZ202600103V and PZ202600104V. With the vote concluded the board adjourned.

Notes on attribution and names: attorney John Moore represents Leppard Mortuary and identified himself on the record; staff and board members were not all named in the transcript for the motion and vote, so the article attributes motions and staff comments generically to a board member and a staff member where the transcript did not identify a full name.