SYRACUSE — A case tabled twice in the last three months was finally approved at the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Thursday, Aug. 17.

Both petitions presented more questions than answers, however.

McClure Oil’s petition for an exception was finally approved. This was the third time the board heard the case. McClure Oil wants to change and alter a non-conforming gas station by allowing the replacement of existing pumps and tanks and allow the addition of four new pumps.

The property is located at 311 S. Huntington St. (SR 13).

At the last two meetings, the board requested a better site plan for the property. Parking was just one of the issues that the board wanted addressed. Per an ordinance, the company is allowed up to 25 parking spots since the property is situated on 2,400 square feet.

The traffic flow is dangerous, cited Matt Sandy of the Kosciusko County BZA office. “These spots could be hazard,” he said of parking after looking at the proposed site plan.

McClure Oil’s petition for a variance was also approved. It wants to allow underground tanks and lines, per Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 28 feet from the right of way. McClure’s also wants to allow the existing canopy to remain as placed 5 feet from the southeast right of way.

Two men representing McClure Oil were present at the meeting. Rick McClure, executive vice president, said, “We are replacing all the tanks, per IDEM, for safety reasons. We don’t have to upgrade all of them but we are. So, it will be safer.”

After considerable debate for nearly an hour, the board decided to approve both of McClure’s petitions with certain conditions as traffic flow and parking were the main concerns. Parking will be angled on the north side of the station and curbing must be installed on the north side only. The existing canopy must be moved if McClure were to petition again for changes.

Christopher and Kimberly Dunwiddie’s petition for a variance was denied. The couple wanted to allow a deck and sun room, that was already built, to remain as constructed at 26.5 feet from the water’s edge, where a permit called for a setback of 61 feet.

The property is located at 515 E. Lake View Road.

Several remonstrators at the meeting said they were not pleased with the deck since it wasn’t in compliance.

Not wanting to set a precedent, the board decided the request and insisted that the deck be tore down and rebuilt. The couple have 30 days to tear the deck down.

K-Development’s petition for an exception and variance was denied. It wanted to allow a three-unit, multi-family structure to be built in a residential district.

The property is located at lot 41 in Hillbolds addition at Huntington and Chicago streets.

K-Development’s petition for a variance was also denied. The three unit, multi-family dwelling would be on 7,000 square feet, where an ordinance requires 15,000 square feet. The development company also wanted to allow six parking spaces, where ordinance requires 12.

Attorney Steve Snyder, who represents K-Development, argued that the structure would improve property values and have other positive amenities.

“This is an improvement for the town,” he said.

However, two remonstrators at the meeting said they were against both petitions and so were other neighbors. Therefore, the board denied the request.

The next meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Syracuse Town Hall.