Applicant Jason withdraws variance request after board raises fire-access and lane-width concerns

An applicant identified only as Jason told the Board of Zoning Appeals he would withdraw his variance request for two proposed storage buildings after board staff said the site, as presented, would not meet local lane-width requirements and could impede fire-department access.

Jason described the development as “two small buildings, a 40x90 and a 10x100,” and asked whether the board had questions about his request. A staff member responding for the board said the submitted material did not include building-permit drawings, so he had to assume a worst-case layout. “These lanes shall be at least 26 ft wide when storage cubicles open onto one side of the lane only, and at least 30 ft wide when cubicles open onto both sides of the lane,” the staff member said, adding that 10 ft was “nowhere near enough to pull apparatus through there.”

Board members and staff discussed site grade and maneuvering, noting a hill behind the buildings and that a 70,000–80,000 lb tanker would be difficult to back through a 10-ft opening. Participants suggested removing units at the west end of the smaller building to increase clearance. The staff member explained removing two 5-ft units would produce the 30 ft the ordinance requires; Jason agreed that he could alter the layout and said he would withdraw his variance request.

The board placed the withdrawal on the record and proceeded to other business. The applicant also said he would submit a site plan to the planning commission as required before building permits are issued.

The next procedural step is for the applicant to file revised plans showing the required separation; no formal variance was granted at the meeting.