Board grants setback variance for Charles Stewart’s 1,600 sq ft showroom at 3519 N. Shun Pike

The Madison Board of Zoning Appeals on July 13 approved a variance that will allow a 1,600-square-foot showroom to be built adjacent to a manufacturing site at 3519 North Shun Pike, granting application BZVDDash26Dash7.

Applicant Charles Stewart said he owns "Madison Arnold" and wants a showroom adjacent to his manufacturing operation to display local art and host visitors, rather than bringing them into the manufacturing area. "We wanted to make another little building ... a showroom that we can show them some stuff and have a more pleasant place to bring people from out of town," Stewart said.

Stewart told the board he discovered a 50-foot setback requirement under the updated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and asked for a 35-foot setback so the building could fit on his lot, citing an existing easement and overhead power lines that constrain placement. He said local GIS parcel lines are inaccurate and that the property historically operated under different setback and lot-size expectations.

Staff and the chair reviewed zoning history, noting that older ordinances had different lot-size and setback standards. "In this 1967 zoning ordinance, heavy industry required an acre, and now it requires 2 acres," the chair said, describing how ordinance changes over time left some longstanding small lots out of step with modern standards.

The board found the three findings of fact were met: members said the proposed use would not injure public health or safety, would not substantially harm adjacent property values based on evidence presented, and that practical difficulty exists because of the lot's historical layout and constraints. A motion to approve BZVDDash26Dash7 passed by roll call: Scott Baldwin—Yes; Carl England—Yes; Mates Burkhart—Yes; Brian Haines—Yes.

The board thanked Stewart for keeping a local business going and approved the variance; the meeting was then adjourned.