A Warsaw couple will not be allowed to operate a computer repair and service business from their home at 2333 N. Sunset Drive, Warsaw.
Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals rejected a variance request at its meeting Monday from petitioners Andrea Roorda and Michael Rine, A.V.A. Technologies LLC, to permit a computer repair and service business in a residential zoning district.
The business repairs, services and builds computers with pick-up and delivery service provided.
Rine said the business is currently located at 489 S. Circle Drive across from Hacienda on Lake City Highway.
He said the current location has caused a conflict of interest with the landlord who has a computer business, and Rine's business is not getting a lot of customers so he wanted to move the business to his home. He said he has operated the business in his home since May.
He said he was looking into building a deck at his home when a building inspector said he would need to get a variance to operate the business out of his home.
Approximately 10 residents from the Sunset Drive neighborhood attended the meeting to voice their concerns with allowing a business in their neighborhood that has been zoned residential.
Robert Rogers, of 2262 N. Sunset Drive, who lives across the street from the residence, said he was opposed to allowing a business on a residential property.
"My concern is that allowing a business in a residential area will lower the property value, and a property that has been zoned residential should not be ignored," Rogers said.
Warsaw City Council representative Bill Rhoades said he was concerned with the heavy traffic that currently is on North Sunset Drive and the potential increased traffic a business at a home would create.
"I see no reason why a precedent should be set to allow a business on a street that has been zoned residential," Rhoades said.
Board president Bruce Woodward said he was concerned with the increased traffic that would be created with delivery trucks and customer traffic on a residential street.
"Residents on Sunset Drive have homes they cherish, and my concern is with the increased delivery truck traffic that may be created as business grows could be injurious to the residents," Woodward said.
Also during the meeting, former board member Alan Clingan was presented with a plaque for his years of service on the board.
Clingan served on the board from September 1998 to December 2006. He also served on the Warsaw Plan Commission. Clingan was replaced by Board Member Tom Allen in January.
Board members are Woodward, Heuer, Dan Hampton, Rick Keeven, Allen and council representative Rhoades.
