Rick and Diane Kerlin's plans to add a 1,664-square- foot accessory structure were approved Monday by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals.

Meeting at 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month, instead of on Memorial Day, the fourth Monday, the board heard from Kerlin, who owns property at 945 Country Club Road. He said the building, to be constructed with vinyl siding and a shingled roof, will initially be used as a garage. He indicated he plans to tear down two existing structures.

Maximum square feet for an accessory structure in a residential zone is 750 square feet.

Kerlin said there will be plumbing installed in the building and it may evolve into a guest house.

Frank and Betty LaRue's request for a variance from development standards for a zero side-yard setback for a four-foot chain link fence on a corner lot was approved. The LaRues' residence is at 903 E. Sheridan St. Betty LaRue appeared before the board.

Also given the board's nod was Greg Sasso, 2013 N. Bay Drive, who requested a variance for an accessory structure -- 864 square feet.

Neither Dave Kintzel nor a representative appeared before the board to discuss old business regarding Gast Fuel and Service Inc. -- the Center Quick Serve at 100 N. Reed St. The item was tabled until the June 24 meeting after much discussion.

BZA members Bruce Woodward and Tom Heuer wanted to proceed with the petition for commercial storage and parking at the mini-mart. Dan Hampton and Alan Clingan wanted to wait until the owner appeared before the board. Since Richard Keeven was absent, the vote ended in a tie.

City councilwoman Trish Brown, a non-voting member, gave her opinion, saying because of Kintzel's history of noncompliance and the many details involved in the variance, he should be present to hear what the board requires in the matter.

Last month the petition requested a variance to use a residential unit as a storage facility. This month plans and a schedule were submitted to demolish the house, establish a parking lot and add an accessory building for storage.

Warsaw city planner Jeff Noffsinger said he was surprised that neither Kintzel nor Dick Kehoe, who represented the owner last month, were present because Kehoe had expressed a genuine interest in working with the city the past two weeks.

The board voted again, this time tabling the item. Betty Gilbert, a Main Street resident, asked whether or not questions could be asked about items presented on a remediation proposal and she was told no, to wait until the petitioner was present.

"I haven't heard you once say 'thank you, Jeff,'" Noffsinger said to Gilbert, indicating himself, "because there have been improvements to the property."

The board did go ahead with the petition of Dennis Weaver, despite Weaver's absence, however. He requested a variance from development standards for a non-conforming lot for a duplex at 1310 E. Clark St.

The property is 7,260 square feet in size and 55 feet wide.

Standards call for a minimum lot size of 8,500 square feet and a minimum width of 66 feet.

Weaver recently purchased the property from the Cardinal Center, which had used the property as a group home for about 10 years. Prior to the Cardinal Center's ownership, the present structure was a duplex.

The petition was approved with the stipulation that a hard surface parking area be installed at the back of the property prior to Oct. 1. [[In-content Ad]]