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Board approves Cass County garage material variances and fire-training structure with conditions
Summary
The Logansport BZA approved variances allowing 100% metal siding, exposed fasteners and use of shipping-container training structures for a county highway garage and fire-training tower, with conditions requiring permits, landscaping/screens and proof to the zoning administrator.
The Logansport Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve BZA case 26-09, a set of variances requested by Steinberger Construction on behalf of Cass County to allow deviations from development standards for a new county highway garage and an attached fire-training structure.
Staff told the board the project requires multiple variances because the B-4 fringe location is subject to Logansport standards that normally require 60% metal and 40% other materials, concealed metal fasteners, minimum fenestration and buffer landscaping. The petitioner asked permission to use 100% metal siding with exposed fasteners, to accept shortfalls in window-area requirements and to formalize the existing use of stacked shipping containers as a fire-training structure on the same site.
Contractors and county representatives said the containers are welded and anchored and the assembled training tower is about 25–28 feet tall. Rocky Buffum described plans to paint and finish the structure and to use volunteers to complete the work. Petitioners said they would provide windows, paint the structure and comply with other site controls where possible.
Board members discussed the permitting oversight that allowed the training structure to be erected without prior variance approval, and staff acknowledged the permitting lapse and asked the board to regularize the siting with a variance. After asking clarifying questions about height, anchoring and whether the building would be finished with multiple materials or painted, the board moved to approve the case with standard conditions: all proposals and other ordinance standards must be met, and applicable state and local permits must be obtained with proof provided to the zoning administrator.
Roll-call votes recorded in the meeting show unanimous approval among the members present (Judy Burkhart: Yes; Tom Nelson: Yes; Mimi Renwanz: Yes; Steph Helton: Yes; Tom Hall: Yes). The zoning administrator will send the approval letter and note the 30-day appeal period.
