Warsaw BZA Denies Use Variance Request For Indoor Storage Facility
WARSAW — The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals denied one variance request and tabled another during the meeting held tonight, Sept. 23.
Justin Taylor, senior planner, explained that the variance use request, located at the corner of Mcclellan and Hackleman streets is a vacant lot. The property is within an R-2 Zoning District and is flanked by single-family residential use to the east and a mix of commercial and residential uses to the west.
“The petitioner would like to build two indoor storage facilities spanning the six residential lots. The storage garages will house up to eight RVs at a time,” said Taylor. “The plan submitted does not include the layout of the access drives that will be used to access the buildings.
Tim Merchant, of Skyline Builders representing property owner Silveus Insurance Group, and Misty Silveus were present at the meeting to explain the request.
Silveus provided board members with a few different photographs of facade possibilities but explained that they would be willing to adjust their plans based on the board’s recommendation. “It’s either going to sit vacant or this would be better,” she said.
Attorney Steve Snyder was present representing adjacent property owner David Holsclaw opposing the request. Snyder argued that the use variance would change the character of the area, diminish property values, possibly enhance congestion and impair the comfort and welfare of neighbors.
“There are lots of places properly zoned where you can establish what they’re looking for — which is an RV garage — and a residential area simply isn’t the place,” said Snyder.
Neighbor Michael Matero was also present at the meeting. He voiced concerns about the drainage in the area, stating that the nearby roads already have a tendency to flood. He was also concerned about access to the facility because of the existing traffic levels in the area.
Board Member Tammy Dalton mirrored these concerns and made a motion to deny the request, which passed.
The board also heard a variance request to allow a detached garage in the front yard at 903 Glee Miner Drive, Warsaw.
Taylor explained that the property is located on Winona Lake and that Warsaw’s municipal code treats both the street and lake sides as front yards, making it difficult to place garages on some lots.
“The proposed garage will be approximately 95-feet from the road and will not negatively impact the visibility of traffic entering and exiting the adjacent properties,” said Taylor. “Given the size of the petitioner’s lot, the location of the detached garage and the surrounding neighborhood, the proposed garage will not be injurious to the public.”
Builder Jay Widman was present at the meeting representing property owners KT and Anita Kishan.
“We think it would be an asset to the property,” Widman said.
Snyder, again representing neighbor Holsclaw also spoke against this request. He argued that the garage would break up the character of the neighborhood, which includes several homes having an expansive front yard area. He also stated that the view of a garage versus a yard would diminish neighboring property values.
Widman clarified that when the Kishan’s bought the property, there was a garage existing in the same location that was demolished. He also stated that the garage would maintain the facade of the house, maintaining similar siding and a matching roofline. But he was unable to provide more than a sketch of the proposed plans.
The board voted to table the request, asking for more complete plans to be submitted before a decision could be made.