Decatur City zoning board approves three variances for St. Mary’s and a homeowner

The Decatur City Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously granted three variances at its meeting, approving two setback exceptions for St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a fence-height variance for a homeowner on Meadow Lane.

The board approved an 8-foot variance that allows St. Mary’s Catholic Church to place a building at a 17-foot front-yard setback on Fifth Street, below the 25-foot minimum under City Code 150.045. The application, listed on the agenda as filed by Bob Berser of St. Mary’s, cited site-size constraints and existing parking conditions as the basis for the request. After brief questions from board members, the board ran through the required findings — including impacts on light and air, traffic congestion, fire safety and property values — and recorded three affirmative votes to grant the variance.

The board then granted a second St. Mary’s petition, recorded in the minutes as a 6-foot variance to permit a 19-foot front-yard setback at Madison Street under the same City Code provision (150.045). The record shows no public opposition; the board again completed the checklist of findings and voted unanimously to approve the variance.

Later on the agenda, homeowner Rich Eloft of 428 Meadow Lane requested a 2-foot variance to allow an 8-foot rear-yard fence where City Code 150.323 limits fences in required side or rear yards to a maximum of 6 feet. Eloft told the board the original fence dated to 1989 and follows a yard slope; he said his intent is to replace the fence in the same configuration. The board heard no opposition, completed the finding-of-facts process and granted the request. One board member said, "There you go. Build your fence," after the vote.

Each approval was recorded in the meeting as a unanimous affirmative (three yes votes). The minutes show the board placed proof of publication and application affidavits on the record before taking up the petitions. The meeting concluded after a short discussion of sidewalks, with the board moving to adjourn.

City Code references recorded in the meeting included 150.045 (minimum front yard setback) and 150.323 (supplemental fence regulations). The minutes list the applicants and addresses as presented on the agenda and show no formal opposition or conditions attached to the granted variances.

The board did not specify individual vote names in the transcript; tallies were recorded as three affirmative votes for each petition. No formal appeals, continuances or referrals were noted during the session. The board adjourned at the end of the agenda.