Mayor Joe Thallemer administers the oath of office to Tammy Dalton at the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Monday. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Two use variance requests were unanimously approved by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday evening.

Laura Alvarado was given permission to open up a one-chair, one-person beauty salon at 805 E. Fort Wayne Street. Alvarado and her husband Hecktor, own the property and duplex in the residential neighborhood.

While the city’s planning office initially recommended denial of the variance, because it is in a residential area with lack of parking, further details provided by Alvarado and lack of remonstrance, no issues were found.

Alvarado stated a parking lot would be placed in the back of the home, with entrance off the alley. There is ample parking available.

Rick Keeven, vice president of the board, stated he would approve the request if there was a stipulation: one chair, this particular owner only and a 1-foot by 1-foot sign placed in a window. Should Alvarado cease operating the business or sell the business, the property would revert back to a residential dwelling.

There was reservations about an absentee landlord, with Hector Alvarado stating the property is 80 percent nicer than it used to be, with Tim Dombrosky, assistant planner, agreeing, stating complaints on the property have ceased since the Alvarado ownership.

Despite unspoken reservations of board member Ron Shoemaker, the motion did pass.

The second use variance approved was a request by Paul Henning to build a private garage with no principle building on Gilliam Avenue. Dombrosky stated the lot is small with wetlands to the south. Henning who does not have a home on the lot, lives nearby.

Henning stated he wishes to erect a 28-foot by 40-foot garage and will be designed to visually fit in the residential neighborhood. Housing materials will be used to construct the garage. There will be electricity and gas to the property, but no water or sewer. “I will maintain it to a high standard,” he told the board.

Again no remonstrance was heard from the neighbors. Concerns over Henning not residing near the property, prompted Dombrosky’s statement: “It’s not relevant how far (away) he resides.”

During other matters, Tammy Dalton was given the oath of office by Mayor Joe Thallemer. This is Dalton’s second term on the board. “This board has a lot of experience,” stated Thallemer.