WARSAW — The Board of Zoning Appeals had a pretty quiet meeting Nov. 28, approving all appeals without opposition besides one.

Biggs Indiana Properties LLC submitted a variance from development standards, asking for lenience in side yard setbacks in its new Bella Augusta housing development off of CR 225W, Warsaw. The variance would allow them to use side yard setbacks as small as five feet, two feet shorter than the R-2 zoning requirements.

The board saw no reason to oppose Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor’s suggestion of approval, but two members of the public came forward with opposition.

Kristy Newton and Eric Manning both came forward, saying that they believe the variance would allow Biggs Indiana to build the homes too close together. Both Newton and Manning live in nearby neighborhoods.

Kevin McDermit, engineer at Lougheed and Associates, and Kevan Biggs came forward to clarify the variance and why it is needed. It comes down to a misunderstanding in zoning, McDermit admitted to assuming the setback was five foot instead of seven, and a necessity for the variance in order to provide three car garages to demanding residents.

As is, the planning for several cul-de-sac lots of the development put the corner of the building at less than seven feet from the property line. This is caused by the “pie” shape of the lots and the expansive square footage of the proposed homes. The variance would not impact the density of the neighborhood.

“We do want to keep the option available … to have the ability to add a three car garage,” commented Biggs.

Newton, a bus driver with routes through Biggs’s other developments Paths of Deerfield and Harrison Landing, asked the board to consider how neighbors feel about the variance. “I really don’t want the neighborhood right behind me to be so close together.”

Manning came forward with opposition about how close the proposed variance would make the development to his backyard, but was seated after Taylor reiterated that the variance has no effect on backyard setbacks and would not make the houses any closer to Manning’s property. Backyard setbacks are a standard 25 feet.

After hearing the oppositions, the board approved the variance for Biggs Indiana Properties LLC, allowing the company to build within five feet of the property line rather than seven.

In other business:

• Ben Thomson was approved for a special exception allowing him to build shipping crates associated with his business out of his home at 1100 N. Park Ave., once every three months.
• Brad Settle was approved for a special exception allowing him to build a duplex at 222 N. McKinley St.
• Dr. Lisa Timmerman, a naturopathic doctor, and husband Rich Timmerman were approved for a special exception to build an in-home business at 1404 E. Center St.
• Vandaco Signs was approved a variance for an electronic, amber lit sign to replace Edgewood Middle School’s current sign at 900 S. Union St.
• Little Crow Lofts, at 201 S. Detroit St., was given a variance to allow for a ratio of one parking space to one unit. The standard is two parking spaces to one unit.