07/11/13 Some local homeowners were seeking permission to build on from Marshall County’s Board of Zoning Appeals.
Three local homeowners were seeking a variance on setback distances in order to put additions on their homes.
Chris Myers who lives on Arrowhead Trail in Lake Latonka was hoping to add a master bedroom and bath to his home necessary because of another addition to his home – a baby. Because of septic system requirements the addition would have to be built at the front of his current dwelling.
Myers brought his request before the county technical review committee who gave their approval for the addition with the restriction that it stayed at least 10 feet from the current well for the house and observed precautions for drainage and erosion during construction.
The property is also subject to neighborhood covenants in the Lake Latonka area. There were two letters from neighbors sent to the BZA objecting to the addition.
Board members expressed concern about the distance between the home’s current well and the addition – specifically the 10 foot distance that the technical review committee had given.
Statutes require a year wait before a specific zoning variance can be reconsidered so Myers asked the board to table his request for a month to allow him to put together a specific site plan with exact distances before considering the variance.
Dave and Barbara Klinedinst received approval on their variance request in order to build a new home on their property on Plymouth-LaPorte Trail.
The lot that the Klinedinst’s wish to build on is adjacent to their current home but has a unique triangular shape. The home they hope to build would be 47 feet from the right of way setback instead of the ordinance required 50 feet.
The couple sold their current home to their daughter.
Richard Sanderson of SR 10 in Culver received his variance to add a living room to the front of his home. He asked for a variance to allow him to build 40 feet from the setback instead of the required 60 feet.
Plan Director Ralph Booker also reported to the BZA on the proposed change of the zoning ordinance regarding fines that will be taken up by the Plan Commission at their next meeting.
As enforcement officer on zoning violations for the county Booker has traditionally begun with a warning followed by a first time fine of $50, a second fine of $100, a third fine of $200 and a final resort of legal action against the offender. The current language in the county zoning ordinance says that fines will be $200 per day for offenses.
The Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on changing the language to match the current enforcement procedure. The members of the BZA concurred.
Provided by our news partners at the Pilot News
