Clinton County ZBA tables variance request for Dewitt home at 4354 W. Lehman Road

The Clinton County Zoning Board of Appeals on May 19 tabled a variance request from applicant Mary Henningson that would allow an addition to a legal nonconforming house at 4354 W. Lehman Road in Riley Township. Interim Planning & Zoning Director Kristen Hatfield told the board the staff report contained an incorrect setback figure and recommended tabling the item so staff could re-notice the corrected variance request.

Mr. Schaefer, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the board "they will need a 41-foot Variance to achieve the expansion that is currently being considered." Neighbor Cory Henningson said alternate designs would harm the home's functionality and argued that the house sits closer to the road than others, adding his belief that the road alignment has changed over the last 100 years. Applicant Mary Henningson said she is improving the home to accommodate her future family and submitted a written personal statement read aloud at the hearing.

Board discussion focused on how the proposed expansion relates to the ordinance limits on nonconforming structures. Member Mark Winsor noted the ordinance allows expansions up to 50% of the first-floor area of a nonconforming structure; he said the current request appeared to exceed that threshold. Vice-Chair Kathleen George moved, and Mark Winsor supported, a motion to table the variance (ZC-02-26; PVR260002) to allow staff to correct the public notice and to give the applicants an opportunity to pursue options that might avoid a variance. The motion carried unanimously (4-0).

The item will be re-noticed with the corrected variance amount and brought back to the board at a later meeting; staff and the applicants were directed to explore alternatives that could reduce or eliminate the need for a variance.