Property along Market Street could be the location of a new business after a decision by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday.

Aaron and Jillian McClone, currently Leesburg residents, were granted a special exception for a home occupation at 2016 E. Market St., a property the couple want to buy, pending BZA approval of the exception.

The decision will allow the home to be used both as a residence and the location for a technology company, MTECH Audio Video Security Data.

The board denied the McClones' additional request for two identification signs near the building. Members said current residential zoning would not permit the request.

"We encourage business, but we have to recognize the residential zoning regulations," board president Dan Hampton said.

Bruce Woodward, who abstained from voting on the matter, represented property owner John Dobbins, who opposed the request.

Woodward said Dobbins believed the signs would be a commercial intrusion to surrounding properties and feared that if the signage was approved, businesses would begin to creep into the neighborhood.

"Historically, you give an exception like this and it comes back to haunt you," Rick Keeven, board member, said.

Though the requested signs were not allowed, the couple can install a 1-square-foot identification sign permitted under developmental regulations.

In other issues, a petition from Steve Savage regarding the use of property at 533 E. Center St. was tabled.

Savage wants to expand office space for RE/MAX Rainbow Realtors. The matter also was tabled at the board's meeting in January.

BZA members are Hampton, Keeven, Woodward, Alan Clingan, Tom Heuer and Bill Rhoades. The next board meeting is April 24. [[In-content Ad]]