Brad and Cynthia Quinn may not put two duplexes on their property at Kings Drive in Syracuse.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals denied the couple's request for a variance for the duplexes as well as a separate one for parking spaces for the buildings.
The property in question is at 12366 N. Kings Drive.
Brad, with attorney Steve Snyder, made the request before the board.
"The statement that needs to be made first so that everybody understands is we're dealing with two duplexes," Snyder said. "Duplexes are permitted uses in a residential district. We don't need your approval to put up a duplex as long as we meet the requirements.
"What we're doing here are two duplexes on a total of four lots," he said, adding the buildings would be "very similar in appearance" and meet "all the setback requirements of the zoning ordinance."
Snyder said as the duplexes were "an investment property" for the Quinns, it was necessary to make them into condominiums falling under multi-family housing, thus bringing the matter before the BZA.
"We're doing it for convenience from the standpoint of creating the entity, which will end up owning, maintaining and supervising the property," he said.
Snyder said the second variance was for asking for four parking spaces in garages in each building and two outside the structures.
He added the project "was not dangerous."
"We're not doing anything more dangerous than having a single-family residence on here," said Snyder, adding the buildings would add value to the property and meet setback and height requirements.
He noted the Quinns "live in the area and they want this to be an asset to the area as well as an asset to the community from the standpoint of providing upgraded to code housing."
The board was presented with a rendering of what construction was to look like.
Board Chairman Lee Harman asked if the depiction was accurate.
Brad noted he gave the board pictures of other projects the couple had done.
"I stand upon what we've done in the past to give you some indication of what we're going to do in the future," he said.
The couple presented one email in support of the project.
When the board asked if there was any opposition, attorney Jack Birch spoke. He noted he was directly representing one couple who lives near the project as well as indirectly others present.
Birch noted the lots the buildings would be on were designed for "small weekend cottages."
"We don't think multi-family is compatible with the area," he said.
"The biggest fear in the neighborhood is that they are short-term rentals," Birch said, noting generally condos that are for the long term have direct beach access, which the property doesn't really have.
Birch later asked for the number of people who were in opposition to stand, with around 12 doing so. Those opposed included those from the nearby Kale Island Homeowners Association.
Six people aside from Birch spoke against the Quinns' construction plan. Their reasons for opposing the project included making the area more crowded, noisier and less safe.
The board ultimately unanimously denied the Quinns' variance requests due to the extent of opposition against them.
Among its numerous actions done Tuesday, the BZA also:
• Approved a variance allowing a parking lot to be put in for Kaleidoscope Wedding and Event Center, 502 N. First St., Pierceton. The lot will be in a residential neighborhood. Petitioner Ashlee Ryman, who owns the center, noted the lot will be near the center for overflow parking and brought three proposals of where she wants it put. The board approved the variance provided Ryman either put in a privacy screen if one of two of the parking lot options is done or swap land with a neighboring property owner for a third option.
• Denied a variance request from Bill Rensberger. He wished to have a subdivision created at 7232 E. 650 N., North Webster, with an around 30-foot easement. The board stood by county ordinance that "50 feet of road frontage" is required.
The board's next meeting is 9 a.m. Dec. 10 in the basement of the Kosciusko County Justice Building.