Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals approved a location for a new marina at last night’s meeting. Pictured from left are Joe Leatherman, Randy Cox, Chairman Larry Coplen, Matt Sandy and Mathew Prichard. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)

SYRACUSE — The location for a new marina was finally approved at the regular meeting of the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday night, Oct. 18.

The board approved Boatworks USA’s petition for an exception for the purpose of allowing a marina with watercraft sales and service in a commercial district. The property is located at 1309 S. Harkless Drive. A building already exists at the current location and is currently the site of Lakeside Fitness.

Attorney Steve Snyder said there’s adequate parking and drainage is addressed. The entrance is off Harkless Drive not SR 13. “There’s nothing dangerous,” he said of traffic.

Boatworks USA’s petition for a variance was also approved. The variance would allow 59 parking spaces in conjunction with the petitioned business, where ordinance would require 115 parking spaces. The petitioner had tried to get another location approved at a previous meeting but that request was denied.

“This is much better than the previous location,” said Chairman Larry Coplen. “I think it will be an asset to the community.”

Boatworks USA’s petition for a variance, which would permit allowing two uses on one tract of ground, a marina and fitness facility, was withdrawn by the petitioner.

There were no remonstrators at the meeting.

Randal and Jo Ellen Baskerville’s case was not approved but continued. The couple want to allow a variance to separate two platted lots and allow a new home to be constructed on each lot at 20 feet from the water’s edge, 20 feet from the road right of way, and 5 feet from both side lines.

The property is located at 818 S. Lakeside Drive.

Several neighbors, however, were against the petition. One of the issues raised was flooding. “It’s in a flood plain,” said one man. The most recent map, conducted by FEMA in 2015, however, showed the property was not in a flood plain, said Matt Sandy, assistant planner.

Kelly and Shelia McDonald’s variance was approved. They want to construct a residential addition, a garage, at 10.3 feet from the right of way. The variance was approved at 12 feet.

The property is located at 404 E. Medusa St.

John and Diana Gardner’s petition for a variance was approved as presented. They want a permit for the construction of a 12-by-24 foot residential addition, 2.3 feet from the right of way of Bishop Street and in line with the existing residence.

The property is located at 720 E. Bishop St.

Tracy Beer’s petition for a variance was continued until November in order to get a new survey. Beer wants to allow the construction of a second story at 2.4 feet from the east property line, 2.7 feet from the west property line and to allow a residential addition at 2.7 feet from the west property line.

The property is located at 512 E. Medusa St.

Esther Fleener’s petition for a variance was denied. The variance would have permitted allowing an existing AC compressor to remain as placed 1 foot from the south sideline and 14 feet from the east right of way.

The property is located 913 S. Lake Drive.

The petitioner, however, must move the AC unit. Several neighbors were against the AC location citing noise. The board received a complaint after a contractor incorrectly installed the AC unit.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 15, at Syracuse Town Hall.