An automobile repair shop went before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night for a variance to help it expand its business.
Boggs Automotive requested a use variance to allow automobile repair in a Commercial zoning at 1531 W. Lake St., Warsaw.
According to Assistant Planner Jonny Latsko, the location currently is used as a commercial garage. Many sites along the corridor are automobile-oriented, including a gas station on the west end of the block and existing auto service and detailing businesses on the east end of the block.
The corridor is a general business district, intended to provide space for retail, as well as certain services, wholesale and warehousing uses not typically associated with commercial use, Latsko said. The comprehensive plan identifies the area for community vitality, he said. The plan notes that designs should be aware of traffic circulation, lighting, loading areas, dumpster locations and signs to be sensitive to adjacent single-family and multi-family residential areas.
The north side of the road is not within city limits, he said. It is zoned by the county as residential, and the land use is low-density residential. The parcel to the south is used for commercial 20-39-unit family apartments.
Latsko said the petitioner intends to improve the current parking lot and bring it up to code, as well as make aesthetic enhancements to the building’s exterior.
“Due to the existing automobile-oriented uses, as well as the existing use of the site, it is the opinion of the planning department that the variance could be viewed favorably,” he said.
Dale Long, an owner of 1621 and 1631, buildings west of the Boggs’, said he and his wife were in favor of the petition.
Andy Tuinstra, owner of Boggs Automotive, said they have a potential to expand their company so they’re looking for the space to expand to all forms of automotive repair and detailing.
There were no remonstrators to the petition.
BZA member Tammy Dalton said she was happy to see a business come to the west side of town. Dan Smith, board member, said that area looked like it was very conducive to auto repair. Dalton made the motion to approve the request, Smith seconded it and it was unanimously approved.
Next up, Bright Signs Marketing requested a variance from development standards to allow a sign within 10 feet of a public right of way in an Industrial-2 zoning at 1195 Polk Drive, Warsaw. The proposed sign would be 5 feet, give or take, from the property line, Latsko said.
The 10-foot clearance requirement exists primarily to maintain ample visibility for road users and vehicles entering the roadway. The distance between the property line and the actual travel surface of the road is greater than 16 feet “at this time,” Latsko said. The total distance of the sign from the travel surface would be greater than 20 feet.
The city does not have any plans to expand the travel surface. The right-of-way between the road and the parcel is predominantly used for utilities.
Bright Signs has requested the variance because 10 feet into the property, where the sign would be placed if in conformity with the city’s code, is a lower grade. Placing the sign within the ditch would make it difficult for the sign to meet other regulations such as height and visual elements, Latsko said.
He said it was the opinion of the planning department that the variance should be granted.
Jake Webber, representing Bright Signs Marketing, which will be putting up the sign for Nextremity Solutions, explained why the variance was needed, similar to what Latsko explained.
There were no remonstrators.
Rick Keeven, BZA vice president, asked about other signs in the area. Latsko said all the signs will be following the development standards.
The board didn’t have any other questions, so Smith made the motion to approve the request, which was unanimously approved.
