July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Orrs granted variance (3/18/05)
BZA allows garage 5 feet from county road right-of-way
By By Mike Snyder-
Despite reservations about setting a precedent, a local zoning board gave its blessing to a rural Redkey couple’s plans to construct a garage close to a lightly-traveled county road.
After a relatively lengthy discussion, members of the Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to Dan and Anita Orr, 4023 South 800 West, Redkey.
The Orrs plan to build a new two-car garage at the southwest corner of their existing home. The west edge of the garage will be approximately 15 feet from the edge of county road 800 West and about five feet from the road right-of-way.
Jay County’s zoning ordinance requires all new structures be located 30 feet from the right-of-way.
The right-of-way is not the road surface, but an area which is available for use for drainage, road repair or other public good.
On county road 800 West, as with most other county roads, the right-of-way is 40 feet, which means it extends 20 feet in either direction from the center of the road.
The Orrs told BZA members Dennis Rodgers, Steve Fennig and Don Loy they plan to offset the garage from the south side of their home to preserve passive solar heating from a bank of windows and to allow a clear sight-line to hog barns located to the south.
“You’re all livestock people,” Dan Orr told the members present. “You like to be able to see your facilities and see what’s going on there.”
Rodgers expressed concern about the garage being so close to the road.
“Fifteen feet is pretty close. I looked around ... and I didn’t see anything 15 feet from the road,” Rodgers said.
Loy and Rodgers both said they were concerned that this decision could be used by those making requests in the future.
But Robert Koesters, an architect from Ball State who is designing the garage for the Orrs, correctly pointed out that variance requests are decided individually.[[In-content Ad]]
After a relatively lengthy discussion, members of the Jay County Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to Dan and Anita Orr, 4023 South 800 West, Redkey.
The Orrs plan to build a new two-car garage at the southwest corner of their existing home. The west edge of the garage will be approximately 15 feet from the edge of county road 800 West and about five feet from the road right-of-way.
Jay County’s zoning ordinance requires all new structures be located 30 feet from the right-of-way.
The right-of-way is not the road surface, but an area which is available for use for drainage, road repair or other public good.
On county road 800 West, as with most other county roads, the right-of-way is 40 feet, which means it extends 20 feet in either direction from the center of the road.
The Orrs told BZA members Dennis Rodgers, Steve Fennig and Don Loy they plan to offset the garage from the south side of their home to preserve passive solar heating from a bank of windows and to allow a clear sight-line to hog barns located to the south.
“You’re all livestock people,” Dan Orr told the members present. “You like to be able to see your facilities and see what’s going on there.”
Rodgers expressed concern about the garage being so close to the road.
“Fifteen feet is pretty close. I looked around ... and I didn’t see anything 15 feet from the road,” Rodgers said.
Loy and Rodgers both said they were concerned that this decision could be used by those making requests in the future.
But Robert Koesters, an architect from Ball State who is designing the garage for the Orrs, correctly pointed out that variance requests are decided individually.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD