[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6156266,"mediaKeyId","5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d","parentId",5471045,"title","Petitioner withdraws request for 6,100-square-foot pole barn after city raises commercial-use concerns","audioSeconds",2562,"startMs",284000,"endMs",2846000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d&start=284&end=2846","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d/thumbnail_284000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6156266/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Petitioner-withdraws-request-for-6100-square-foot-pole-barn-after-city-raises-commercial-use-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156266-bb259f301e3636c962cff74105b03292/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118947&Signature=FwbyNi0a081fS8Fvh8XZei2QsowaQ5x1dA--mK7vAWBNcOtg4Mhztkz1FcfNouitzL79gZ8am80mjBTvFPW9hcVuFzDj5VhoE9Gm2D4daUF07YqCLukr69Fa0BBl5zjempaWA~btsMWpVlf7LwSpEK9ccA15A3Aord3iSpvuUDoHhDK8RAFoRrOfnFPIF36Or7EAifTNJERYvjYuS2NRYJfAf~x0T6EPmt~S4sbawCGVYm~Jl8A8TOj1Q5KT7fHjY~I8hoVdw2n~XPpVZB03hGjErR2rYm0XoMdICq0DPOa7KVsZMQFgSkQeHHRgpPaKSeuOnA4b-kd1WC1hytq8lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lawrence Indiana","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","June 17, 2025 — A petitioner withdrew a zoning petition before a vote that would have allowed an accessory pole barn on a property off East 40 Sixth Street to grow to 6,100 square feet and to exceed the height of the primary dwelling. City staff had recommended denial and board members raised concerns about potential commercial use and public-safety requirements for large gatherings.

Theresa Benson and David Martinez, representing CFS Construction, presented the application on behalf of the property owner (Mejia). \"My name is Theresa Benson, and this is David Martinez, and we work for CFS Construction,\" Benson said when presenting the case. The proposal sought to expand an existing storage/pole barn and to add interior features the presenter described as a large common space and a kitchen intended for family gatherings.

City staff strongly cautioned the board. Renee Rafala, interim director of public works, summarized the staff review and recommended denial. \"The city has a lot of the same concerns that the board has expressed,\" Rafala said, noting the property already contains a 1,622-square-foot primary dwelling, an 840-square-foot detached garage, two sheds (about 200 and 240 square feet), and a 3,700-square-foot storage barn. Rafala said the proposal would increase the barn's total floor area to about 6,100 square feet and that the zoning code's accessory-structure guidance (the \"75% rule\") limits accessory structures relative to the primary dwelling's size. She also flagged the barn's proposed 26-foot height versus the roughly 16–18-foot primary dwelling height and said the building elevations appear commercial in character.

Rafala told the board she was concerned the large interior layout (chef's kitchen, large pantry, balcony/viewing area) could facilitate special events such as weddings or quinceañeras. She pointed to the city's special-event permit rules for gatherings of 100 or more people that require a permit and specify security: \"For every 50 people, you have to have 1 officer,\" she said, and advised the board that she and staff recommended denial.

Board members expressed similar reservations. One board member said, \"I do have some concerns about it,\" questioning whether the structure would be used as an event center or to expand a car-repair business already operating on the property. The petitioners acknowledged the size and said they might scale the project down if it did not pass.

Before the board voted, the petitioner withdrew the application. Staff and board members advised the petitioner that a revised proposal, additional meetings with city staff, or a rezoning application would be appropriate next steps if the owner intends a commercial or larger-scale use.

Key numerical details discussed at the hearing: the primary dwelling is about 1,622 square feet; existing accessory buildings include an 840-square-foot detached garage, two sheds (about 200 and 240 square feet), and a 3,700-square-foot storage barn; the proposed total pole barn area would be about 6,100 square feet; the accessory-structure \"75% rule\" in local code was cited by staff as a limiting standard; the proposed barn height was described as about 26 feet compared with roughly 16–18 feet for the house.

The board took no formal vote on the petition because the petitioner withdrew the application during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence City Board of Zoning Appeals 6.17.25","oneSentenceSummary","A petitioner withdrew a variance request to enlarge a storage/pole barn to 6,100 square feet and to exceed the primary dwelling's height after city staff and board members expressed concerns the structure could function as an event center or commercial use; the city recommended denial.","taxTitle","Lawrence City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",60934,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156272,"Board grants Somerville Drive deck variance after city finds no drainage problems",297,1001000,1298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d&start=1001&end=1298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d/thumbnail_1001000.jpg","/articles/6156272/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-grants-Somerville-Drive-deck-variance-after-city-finds-no-drainage-problems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156272-cb4e7cfc5765d4dcf27efe30a63fee24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118947&Signature=mHKbVbID6~RZaImd9IRwEbM25LFKEne16qpEOCECWIsk~STwfbRmkG8vamHE4igE6kdOWgkFZ9K55ZrO2xMsOUSiZ16q9CKTvOLiLgqo4vLIaIvF90Pu5yXr9poHcXJJQBuXmOftoEjXTP1bIlLz1uGMrcREYe3gNTng9G1hUOBTfCTY0GBfK2ODNkkmk8UzFv830--uJwPu90vtUBDqc1jBDjTxkosCuyxxrG0a4CEx0E-0cIePrkLeQ3JowsXYIn8L0KU9h19nuHuX62wLPvJDGF7-py0hDEmhqRW8MHU41X2bj0Bm37Y6bVH3zKXluzCQCLHyTnbIRjiEwinWlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","June 17, 2025 — The Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously granted a variance that allows a 305-square-foot deck at 8364 Somerville Drive to encroach 9 feet 6 inches into an existing 15-foot drainage and utility easement.

Pamela Molon filed the variance under ordinance section 7-43-3-o6-a4-d to permit the deck. The contractor and presenter, identified as Ryan, told the board the request is similar to a project completed two years earlier on the same street and that the proposed deck will be paved and built of composite material. \"This is basically the second time requesting this variance,\" Ryan said.

City staff recommended approval. Renee Rafala, interim director of public works for the City of Lawrence, said she visited the site and found no evidence of drainage problems, even after recent heavy rain. \"The city of Lawrence is in support of this. I did visit the site. There was no evidence, even with all this rain we've had, of any drainage issues in the area, so we're not concerned,\" Rafala said.

Board members asked about materials and drainage testing. The contractor said the new work will match the current paved driveway and that footings would be dug for the deck; no formal drainage testing had been performed and the contractor said the project would be minimal disturbance.

The board voted to grant the variance. The petitioner and contractor were advised to follow standard permitting and drainage-permit procedures if later site disturbance thresholds are exceeded by grading or driveway work.

Background: the property sits adjacent to a state park boundary; the contractor said the deck will stop several feet from any fence line. The variance allows the deck to extend into the drainage and utility easement by the specified amount.","The Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously granted Pamela Molon's request for a 305-square-foot deck encroaching 9 feet 6 inches into a 15-foot drainage and utility easement at 8364 Somerville Drive; the city visited the site and reported no drainage issues.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156276,"Board approves variance to allow four Lawrence lots served by private drive",619,343000,962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d&start=343&end=962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471045-ff8711e4a5cc8d3cf755fecf5860026d/thumbnail_343000.jpg","/articles/6156276/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-approves-variance-to-allow-four-Lawrence-lots-served-by-private-drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156276-bf1b2551d04f07602516adafc63117f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118947&Signature=Kxzq7l1WQiXDWwf5Zm7txDTynwsYejzI4lV5VPuQMijzISqaxAedkkxNU6yKUckymLRqI-Lt~rzF7nkwS3fwLkoiSo9w1NYvtCZ7OZ8atBNrBm0332Js4Oti9EfCk9L5RFGRxf5x9hrz21-Dv6jqwWfhf8OACb-yFjwrWMgAlAJ8L6i1CFkNnp9K3yY0jbPHX0HetEWexedpWtSjR~6gKg-xTXrrMB37JWqQT9~AMWAeMpVMneUJCTF3nI8yJ9548rGsEN4-wYQVbzCZvS5DYHZZ3OgFYJvOBs3SStT1Tnxnrp1PeQeP98GUA5UJnJxGRYc1s8LLfAIrA9KnrOcXpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","June 17, 2025 — The Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a variance allowing four proposed lots on East 70 Ninth Street to be platted with no public-right-of-way frontage and to be served by a single private access drive instead.

The petitioners, David and Joanne Sweet, through their attorney Russell Brown of Clark Quinn, asked the board to allow the four new lots to have zero feet of frontage along East 70 Ninth Street, a variance from the development standard in table 7-42-103-4 that requires 40 feet of frontage in a D-2 district. \"Our request is that you grant a variance to allow these 4 lots to be developed served only by a private drive without any right of way frontage,\" Russell Brown said.

The request covers approximately 15 acres immediately west of the Sweets' home. Brown told the board each of the four new lots would be at least one acre and would have frontage on a private drive labeled Block A. He said the private drive reduces the number of curb cuts on East 70 Ninth Street and ‘‘manages development costs’’ by avoiding multiple long driveways. Brown advised the plat must next go to the Marion County Plat Committee; if approved there the petitioners plan a rezoning filing to convert portions of Lot 1 and Lot 2 from SU-1 to D-2 so the lots can be developed.

Renee Rafala, interim director of public works for the City of Lawrence, told the board the city supports the petition. \"We are in support of this petition,\" Rafala said. Councilor Cohen also spoke in favor: \"I'm in support of this petition as well,\" she said, stating she reviewed the mailed materials and the staff report.

Brown told the board the petitioners will ask the July 9 plat committee to accept the plat. He also said the plat committee will be asked for a waiver of the private-drive sidewalk requirement under the subdivision control ordinance; that sidewalk waiver would be considered by the plat committee rather than by the zoning board.

The board voted to grant the variance. With the zoning variance approved, the petitioners will proceed to the plat committee and later to a rezoning filing for the SU-1 parcels the petition would convert to D-2.

Background and context: the private-drive layout was presented as a way to limit curb cuts on East 70 Ninth Street and to keep lot access consolidated. The petitioners told the board the four new lots will likely be developed initially for family members. The plat committee review and any rezoning remain separate approvals; those approvals are required steps before building permits could be issued.","On June 17, 2025 the Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing four proposed lots on East 70 Ninth Street to be platted without frontage on the public right-of-way and to be served by a single private access drive; the petitioners will next pursue plat approval and rezoning steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Petitioner withdraws request for 6,100-square-foot pole barn after city raises commercial-use concerns

Board grants Somerville Drive deck variance after city finds no drainage problems

Board approves variance to allow four Lawrence lots served by private drive