Variance OK’d for JCCT building

Jay County Civic Theatre is one step closer to constructing its own building.

Portland Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance request Tuesday for Jay County Civic Theatre to build a new structure at 204 E. High St.

Plans are for the facility to be used mainly as a meeting and storage space.

Portland Board of Works approved Jay County Civic Theatre’s bid for the property in 2023. The purchase was contingent on the organization being approved for a variance.

Jay County Civic Theatre president Ray Cooney — he is also president, editor and publisher of The Graphic Printing Company — explained the new building would be used for meetings and storage and as a place to build sets for shows. He noted the organization currently rents approximately four different locations for storage and utilizes its members’ properties as well.

“For years, civic theatre has been kind of nomadic and is in need of a space to call our home,” he said.

Because the area is zoned as residential, Jay County Civic Theatre needed to have a variance request approved from the city in order to build the structure.

Preliminary designs show a 41-foot by 88-foot building with rooms for storage, an office, a board room, a restroom and utility room, and a workshop. About five parking spaces located just north of the building are also included in the plan. Plans for construction are still several years out.

Local resident Emily Goodrich — she said she represented neighboring property owner Bill Childers, who was not able to make the meeting — said Childers was on board with Jay County Civic Theatre’s plans.

Portland Board of Zoning Appeals member Virginia Burkey added that she has spoken with Asbury United Methodist Church’s pastor Joe Boggs and that he has no issue with the plan.

“I think it’s an asset myself,” Burkey said.

John Hemmelgarn, director of Jay/Portland Building and Planning, said he sees no issues with civic theatre putting a new building on the lot. He noted he would like to see more parking available for the building but pointed to the nearby city parking lot as well as Asbury United Methodist Church’s parking lot just northeast of the property.

Hemmelgarn noted that the building maximizes the property’s space, meaning if Jay County Civic Theatre wanted to expand it would need to buy additional property or add more floors to the structure.

He asked what material the exterior would be, with Jay County Civic Theatre treasurer Greg Rittenhouse noting those details will be finalized later in the process.

“I just want to make sure it’s going to look good,” Hemmelgarn said, noting a pole barn would not be allowed in the area.

Others voiced concerns about the possibility of Jay County Civic Theatre using the space for outside storage or not maintaining the grounds. Rittenhouse noted it would reflect on Jay County Civic Theatre if its facility were not kept in order.

“That would be important for us too, just from the standpoint of our name and pride in the community,” he said.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur explained the board may impose reasonable conditions with its variance approval as it deems necessary. He suggested the board approve the variance on three conditions: outside storage is not allowed on the property, landscaping and maintenance are kept up to city code and adherence to “neighborhood aesthetics” for the exterior of the building — specifically, the organization won’t build a pole barn or similar structure that would look vastly different from the surrounding homes.

Portland Board of Zoning Appeals member Ron Laux made a motion to that effect.

Board members Larry Petro, Kyle Cook, Burkey and Laux approved the request. Aaron Loy abstained because his wife, Katie, is a member of the Jay County Civic Theatre board of directors.

In other business, Pati McLaughlin of Jay/Portland Building and Planning noted the Portland Board of Zoning Appeals’ next meeting is Sept. 10.