July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
U-Loc to expand (7/14/04)
Storage company gets special exception from BZA
The Portland Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a request which will allow Inman U-Loc Storage to expand.
The company, which currently has several storage buildings on East Pearl Street, requested a special exception to build and operate a mini-warehouse in an area zoned as a neighborhood business.
In the zoning ordinance, a mini-warehouse is listed as a special exception which must be cleared through the BZA, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator Bill Milligan said this morning.
The request was granted Tuesday with very little discussion.
U-Loc, which is owned by Portland residents Doug and Dean Inman, has already purchased land at 217, 224 and 226 E. Pearl Street. The company would like to build two storage units on the property, which is located on the north side of Pearl Street from the existing storage units. Homes currently standing on the site will be demolished.
Also Tuesday, the board approved a variance to allow the Portland Lions Club to build a community center at 310 East 100 North, behind Joyce-Dayton Corporation.
The lot is currently zoned industrial. The variance will allow the community center on land zoned for industrial use.
The Portland Planning Commission recommended the board approve the request at its July 1 meeting.
The planned 5,000-square-foot building is expected to cost about $125,000.
Lions Club Building Committee member Dale Williams said the club has currently raised $45,000 for the project — including a donation of $10,000 from a Jay County woman.
Money for the project will be raised during an auction in October or November and through private and corporate donations.
The building will have a maximum capacity of 250 to 300 people and 125 parking spaces.
“Parking will not be an issue,” Milligan said after the meeting.
“Hopefully we’ll get some other land contributions in the future (for parking),” Williams said.
The 2.11 acres for the center was donated to the club by Joyce-Dayton a year ago.
“We’re very appreciative to Joyce-Dayton and everything they’ve done,” said Lions Club Building Committee member Bill Cook.
The building will be rented out for events such as auctions, wedding receptions and banquets. Williams said the building could also be used as a shelter, “In case we ever have an unfortunate act of God.”
No date for a ground-breaking has been set, but preliminary construction, such as building a retention pond and prepping for the foundation, is expected to begin this fall. Construction should start in the fall of 2005, said Williams.
Ron May was the only member of the BZA who voted against the request. He said he was hoping the center could have been put in one of the empty buildings around town or in downtown, instead of building a new building. May also didn’t agree with putting a commercial building in an industrial area, he said this morning.
May brought up the issue during Tuesday’s meeting. Williams said it would cost more to renovate a building than to build a new one.
In other business, the board approved a variance that will allow the construction of a fence in the front yard of East North Street residents.
Portland resident Chad Young, 130 E. North St., wanted to put a six-foot privacy fence in his front yard.
Young said the Jayland Homeless Shelter is located next to his home, and his wife is frequently the victim of catcalls. There are also fights in front of the shelter, he said.
“I’m uncomfortable with stuff that goes on around there,” said Young. “The catcalls make me nervous. I prefer to put up a fence and allow my children and wife to go outside and feel comfortable.”
Portland’s zoning ordinance doesn’t allow fences to be in front yards. Young said he doesn’t have a back yard, so his children have to play on the front lawn.
Before the board made its decision, Milligan said the fence would not hinder visibility on the street. The only blockage would be with a neighbor located west of Young’s property.
Young said his neighbor had already approved the installation of the fence. It will be located 30 feet from the street, so it won’t obstruct anyone’s view.
The board also approved a Type II Home Occupation on a 4-1 vote.
Carrie James, who lives at 410 W. Walnut St., would like to operate a nail salon from her home, which is currently zoned R8.
Board member Vicki Tague, who opposed the issue, asked James if she had considered running her business in one of the vacant buildings downtown. James said she could not afford to rent a building.
Tague said she was opposed to the special exception request because the board should be handing out as few home occupancy permits as possible.
The request was approved with the stipulation the business only have one nail technician.[[In-content Ad]]
The company, which currently has several storage buildings on East Pearl Street, requested a special exception to build and operate a mini-warehouse in an area zoned as a neighborhood business.
In the zoning ordinance, a mini-warehouse is listed as a special exception which must be cleared through the BZA, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator Bill Milligan said this morning.
The request was granted Tuesday with very little discussion.
U-Loc, which is owned by Portland residents Doug and Dean Inman, has already purchased land at 217, 224 and 226 E. Pearl Street. The company would like to build two storage units on the property, which is located on the north side of Pearl Street from the existing storage units. Homes currently standing on the site will be demolished.
Also Tuesday, the board approved a variance to allow the Portland Lions Club to build a community center at 310 East 100 North, behind Joyce-Dayton Corporation.
The lot is currently zoned industrial. The variance will allow the community center on land zoned for industrial use.
The Portland Planning Commission recommended the board approve the request at its July 1 meeting.
The planned 5,000-square-foot building is expected to cost about $125,000.
Lions Club Building Committee member Dale Williams said the club has currently raised $45,000 for the project — including a donation of $10,000 from a Jay County woman.
Money for the project will be raised during an auction in October or November and through private and corporate donations.
The building will have a maximum capacity of 250 to 300 people and 125 parking spaces.
“Parking will not be an issue,” Milligan said after the meeting.
“Hopefully we’ll get some other land contributions in the future (for parking),” Williams said.
The 2.11 acres for the center was donated to the club by Joyce-Dayton a year ago.
“We’re very appreciative to Joyce-Dayton and everything they’ve done,” said Lions Club Building Committee member Bill Cook.
The building will be rented out for events such as auctions, wedding receptions and banquets. Williams said the building could also be used as a shelter, “In case we ever have an unfortunate act of God.”
No date for a ground-breaking has been set, but preliminary construction, such as building a retention pond and prepping for the foundation, is expected to begin this fall. Construction should start in the fall of 2005, said Williams.
Ron May was the only member of the BZA who voted against the request. He said he was hoping the center could have been put in one of the empty buildings around town or in downtown, instead of building a new building. May also didn’t agree with putting a commercial building in an industrial area, he said this morning.
May brought up the issue during Tuesday’s meeting. Williams said it would cost more to renovate a building than to build a new one.
In other business, the board approved a variance that will allow the construction of a fence in the front yard of East North Street residents.
Portland resident Chad Young, 130 E. North St., wanted to put a six-foot privacy fence in his front yard.
Young said the Jayland Homeless Shelter is located next to his home, and his wife is frequently the victim of catcalls. There are also fights in front of the shelter, he said.
“I’m uncomfortable with stuff that goes on around there,” said Young. “The catcalls make me nervous. I prefer to put up a fence and allow my children and wife to go outside and feel comfortable.”
Portland’s zoning ordinance doesn’t allow fences to be in front yards. Young said he doesn’t have a back yard, so his children have to play on the front lawn.
Before the board made its decision, Milligan said the fence would not hinder visibility on the street. The only blockage would be with a neighbor located west of Young’s property.
Young said his neighbor had already approved the installation of the fence. It will be located 30 feet from the street, so it won’t obstruct anyone’s view.
The board also approved a Type II Home Occupation on a 4-1 vote.
Carrie James, who lives at 410 W. Walnut St., would like to operate a nail salon from her home, which is currently zoned R8.
Board member Vicki Tague, who opposed the issue, asked James if she had considered running her business in one of the vacant buildings downtown. James said she could not afford to rent a building.
Tague said she was opposed to the special exception request because the board should be handing out as few home occupancy permits as possible.
The request was approved with the stipulation the business only have one nail technician.[[In-content Ad]]
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