Pictured, from left, are Assistant City Planner Aeriel Jones, Tom Allen, and Rick Keeven.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals heard one use variance and four variances from development standards at its monthly meeting held Monday, Oct. 22.

Petitioner Jerry Ryan of Ryan Motors requested a use variance to allow an auto sales shop to be located within a C-2 zoning district.

The property is located at 1202 E. Winona Ave. Ryan has been operating his auto sales business at 408 S. Detroit St. and is looking to expand the business at this new location. Ryan Motors expects to have no more than 20 cars on the lot at a time.

The planning department had some concerns about maintaining clear sight lines for ingress and egress along Winona Avenue, as well as potential overcrowding of the lot. The planning department recommended that the board approve the request but with the following conditions. Any ingress and egress from Winona Avenue must be a minimum of 100 feet from the intersection of Bronson Street and Winona Avenue. Cars displayed along Winona Avenue cannot encroach onto the right of way. All other ordinances regarding auto sales must be upheld.

Board member Tammy Dalton expressed concern about the number of cars that might be at the lot. Assistant City Planner Aeriel Jones said that since there will be no more than 20 cars at the lot, she is not concerned.

The board approved the request and asked Ryan to meet the three conditions set by the planning department.

A variance from development standards was received by Petitioner Spiars Engineering LLC regarding a front yard setback. Rusty Spiars requested to reduce the front yard setback to 20 feet to construct a Fairfield Inn hotel on Shelden Street, which is near Walmart and Kohls. The parcel that the company wishes to build on is flanked by two public roads. The city’s ordinance considers lots with this configuration to have two front yards.

The planning department said the case could be viewed favorably.

“It’s a great location and a beautiful hotel,” said Spiars. “We just need that reduction for vehicles.”

The board approved the request.

Petitioner Bobbi Cousins was at the meeting regarding the construction of a wooden deck onto a lake house, located at 1015 Country Club Lane. Cousins requested a two-foot, three-inch variance from a side yard setback and a four-foot variance from a lakefront setback.

The planning department said there is some concern with fire safety when allowing residences to encroach on property lines. The department recommended that the board approve the four-foot variance for the lakefront setback and a two-foot variance from the side yard setback instead of the requested two-feet, three inches. Cousins said she was fine with just having a two-foot variance.

The board approved the request.

Petitioner Garry Potts, owner of Professional Permits, requested a variance from development standards to allow a 39 1/2 foot high sign in a C-3 district. The existing steel poles for the current sign would be used, with a new sign installed on top of the poles. The proposed sign is 5 1/2 feet shorter than the existing sign. The planning department said the board could provide approval for the request. The sign is located at 1005 Anchorage Road and would be used for Aegis Dental Group.

Board member Dan Smith expressed concern about the brightness of the sign, as it’s located near US 30. Potts said all city ordinances regarding brightness settings for digital signs will be followed.

The board approved the request.

Petitioner Chad White also brought a variance from development standards to the board regarding a carport at 106 Ramar Drive. White requested to reduce the side yard setback from seven feet to five feet to construct the carport. The planning department said the case could be viewed favorably.

The board approved the request.

The board’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26.