Oct. 1, 2025 — The Board of Adjustment voted to approve a variance that reduces the minimum lot-width requirement from 100 feet to 32 feet for a parcel at 495 South River Run Road, clearing the way for the owner to pursue a minor subdivision of the light-industrial lot.

The variance was requested by David Carpenter on behalf of Flag Holdings LLC. Zoning Code Manager Tiffany Antal told the board the request is to permit a flag-lot configuration that would let the parcel be split so each new lot could be sold separately. "The applicant would like to make a flag lot," Antal said while explaining the site's narrow frontage at the end of a cul-de-sac and the code requirement that new lots have frontage on a public or private street measured at the front setback line.

The variance applies to the lot-width standard in the city's zoning code for the light industrial — open district. Antal said the 100-foot measurement is taken at the front setback line, which in this case is 15 feet from the front property line, and that the proposed split would create narrow frontage with wider area behind the frontage, a common characteristic of cul-de-sac lots. She told the board the parcel is large enough to physically accommodate an additional building in the rear and that city development engineers have indicated it is feasible to provide utilities and other infrastructure to the new lot.

Antal summarized the findings the board must make to grant a variance and said the city has residential provisions that allow alternative lot dimensions but not equivalent flexibility for commercial and industrial lots. She said staff finds special circumstances exist because of the lot's size and shape and that the applicant did not create those circumstances. Staff recommended approval of the variance with conditions to ensure the adjustment is the minimum necessary and that required setbacks and permitted uses in the zoning district remain unchanged.

Applicant David Carpenter, owner of Hope Construction and Flag Holdings LLC, said the request has been under consideration for about five years and thanked staff for their work. "I just wanted to thank you for your consideration this morning, and, thank Tiffany for putting this together," Carpenter said.

During discussion a board member expressed support for the plan and praised staff review: "I appreciate the creative way that the property owner wants to increase the density of their property," the board member said, adding they were supportive but had been "perplexed by the amount of fee" charged for the city's analysis. No members of the public spoke during the hearing; Antal said property owners within 300 feet received notice and a legal notice was posted in the Daily Sun and that no comments had been received as of the hearing.

A motion to approve the variance "as presented by the chairperson" was moved and seconded; the board then voted in favor. The transcript records the board answering "aye" to an oral vote and the chair announcing, "The motion passes. The proposed variance is approved." The transcript does not record individual roll-call votes.

Antal noted that the applicant must complete a minor subdivision process and meet the conditions attached to the variance before any parcel sale or additional building permit would be finalized. The variance will not change permitted uses in the zoning district or authorize a nonconforming use, Antal said.

The board moved on to informational items and adjourned after confirming no future agenda items were pending.