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Board allows accessory barn before house with 18‑month build timeline in Bethel Township
Summary
Clark County BZA approved an accessory‑building‑first variance for a 1.38‑acre Bethel Township parcel, permitting a roughly 1,560 sq ft barn to be built now provided the principal house exterior is completed within 18 months and Health District and County Engineer conditions are met.
The Clark County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a request March 26 allowing an accessory building to be built before the principal residence on a 1.38‑acre parcel in Bethel Township and granted a size exception for the accessory structure to exceed 1,500 square feet. Rachel Ward said the parcel is zoned A‑1 and the proposed structure is about 32 by 52 feet (≈1,560 sq ft). The Health District asked for a site approval and the County Engineer recommended coordination on septic/well locations and driveway plans with the township.
Applicant Tricia Blessing told the board several neighbors had received similar approvals and she plans to break ground on the barn within weeks and finish a house exterior within 12 to 18 months, noting she was financing construction to remain debt‑free and is caring for aging relatives. The board emphasized past problems where accessory buildings were left standing without a principal dwelling and therefore attached an 18‑month exterior completion condition. The motion to approve requires the applicant to comply with Health District and County Engineer requirements and to secure Bethel Township approval for driveway access.
Board members said the requested exceptions were consistent with nearby approvals and that the timeline addresses prior enforcement concerns. Staff advised the applicant to contact county staff with questions about required approvals and the condition timeline.
