Hammond BZA forwards event-space variance for 1424–30 Michigan St., sets occupancy and safety conditions

The Hammond City Board of Zoning Appeals voted to forward a variance of use for an event space at 1424–30 Michigan Street to city council with a favorable recommendation, adopting the staff report as findings of fact.

Staff said the petition’s outstanding issue was life-safety documentation: the building commissioner determined that current travel distances require a secondary emergency exit (an ADA-compliant ramp at a rear exit) to justify occupancy above 49. Mr. Novak, presenting the staff report, said the life-and-safety plan showed a 63-foot travel distance and that a secondary ramp would be required to reach the higher occupancy permitted by parking ratios. "With the statement that the petitioner has made regarding the construction of the ramp, that does allow for the opportunity to increase the occupancy from the 49 to the ratio based on the number of parking spaces," Novak said.

The BZA approved staff-recommended conditions tied to the favorable recommendation, including: hours limits for events, completion of screening/fencing/landscaping and resurface/restripe of the parking lot to provide at least 30 code-compliant off-street spaces (including two ADA spaces), construction of an ADA-compliant front ramp by a licensed contractor, final city inspections and approvals, compliance with Hammond Fire Department and NFPA codes, and adherence to cited Hammond City Code chapters (94, 97, 98, 101, 132, 150, 160) addressing noise, litter and public nuisance issues. Staff also set a maximum occupancy of 49 persons at present and granted staff authority to increase occupancy to 90 after confirmation that the rear ADA ramp is constructed and that the 30 parking spaces exist and all permits/inspections are complete.

Petitioner Saul Correa confirmed he had submitted a revised site plan and life-safety plan and said he had engaged Wallin Gomez Architects; he agreed to provide technical details for the ramp construction for the city's file. Board members voted to adopt the staff report and forward the petition; roll call recorded three ayes, zero nays.

Next steps: the variance will be considered by Hammond City Council with the staff conditions attached. The BZA noted that the occupancy increase is contingent on construction, permits and final inspections; until those steps are completed the event space remains limited to 49 persons.