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A request by David and Janet Essig to build a residence at 1602 Brubaker St. with a 20-foot front yard setback and no south side yard setback was approved Monday by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals.
The zoning ordinance requires a 25-foot front yard setback and a minimum side yard setback of five feet. Because of the narrow dimensions of the Pike Lake lot, the request is in keeping with the neighborhood.
Concern was expressed by neighbor Louise Collins about an undeveloped stretch of Widaman Street that borders the property. She said a lift station will be put at the west end of the undeveloped street and wanted to make sure it would remain unimproved.
Collins also was concerned about the zero setback, hoping approval of the Essigs' request did not mean everyone could build with no setback. BZA member Dan Hampton said the exception was for this petitioner only.
Essig has owned the land since 1973 and, with neighbor Louis Dobbins, maintains the undeveloped street.
The 20-foot front yard setback toward Brubaker Street allows Essig to construct a basement under the new structure, away from the 100-year flood plain.
The Knights of Columbus' request to build a building for the use of the organization and other nonprofit groups also was approved last night.
The 5,760-square-foot structure will be at the northeast corner of Fort Wayne and Lindberg streets, between Titus Funeral Home and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
The land is zoned R-1. Club or lodge buildings are allowed only in commercial (C-2 or C-4) or industrial (I-1 or I-2) zoned districts. The comprehensive plan indicates that this area will support commercial development.
Hampton recused himself from the decision because he belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
Three Knights members attended the meeting and advised the board not to forget the club's current Tootsie Roll sales drive as they departed.
The board also:
• Approved the request of Robert South for a variance from developmental standards, a three-foot setback for a building addition, at 2234 E. Hendricks St. The property is zoned industrial, I-2.
• Approved the petition of Alfred E. Judd for a variance from developmental standards for a garage in his side yard at 2702 Marion Ave. He will align the garage with the front line of his home.
Regulations do not automatically allow an accessory building in a front yard. It may be within five feet of either side property line, provided the building is six feet or more behind the rear line of both the principal building and the nearest adjacent principal building.
• Approved the request of Construction Management for a zero-foot rear yard setback for a 120-foot by 30-foot building, a variance from developmental standards.
The company plans to build a four-unit commercial building for a potential owner of 604 N. Detroit St.
Construction Management representative Cory Collins said his client wants to have a larger building with more room for parking
In November, a seven-foot rear yard setback for the construction of a 110-foot by 40-foot, or 4,400-square-foot, office and/or retail building was granted.
• Approved Janet Farrington's requesting for a four-foot front yard (lakeside) setback for the construction of a four-foot chain link fence. The existing chain link fence on the side of the property will be replaced by vinyl privacy fencing also, Farrington said.
The BZA members are Alan Clingan, Hampton, Tom Heuer, Richard Keeven and Bruce Woodward. Clingan was absent.
