The Grand Rapids Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 11 approved a 23.1-foot variance to allow a proposed distribution warehouse at 2058 Calvin Avenue Southeast to be 1.9 feet from the Hazen Street front lot line and also approved the applicant’s request to eliminate the property’s parking requirement. The board tabled two additional side-yard setback requests to give the applicant time to work with staff.

The variances matter because the 4,000-square-foot parcel is smaller than the 10,000-square-foot minimum called for in the city’s zoning ordinance and sits at the edge of industrial uses adjacent to residences. Board members said the lot’s size, shape and dual frontages limit practical options for placing a building without relief from the code.

City planner Rowan (staff) told the panel the applicant seeks multiple dimensional variances: reducing the required 25-foot Hazen front setback to 1.9 feet, reducing a 25-foot side-yard setback adjacent to residential uses to 23 feet, reducing a 5-foot side-yard setback to 2.5 feet, and eliminating parking. Rowan said the lot ‘‘is in adjacent to an industrial area surrounded by residential areas’’ and is ‘‘slightly over 4,000 square feet below the minimum 10,000 square feet required by ordinance.’’

King, who visited the property, described the site as a compact industrial street bordered to the north and south by operating industrial uses and residential properties to the east. He noted utility boxes at the rear corner of the lot and that the Calvin frontage has an established building line while the Hazen frontage does not.

Applicant Mel Kotler told the board he and his wife, local business owners, bought the lot to put a small warehouse on it and that they spoke with the immediate neighbor to the east, who ‘‘was in support of the project.’’ Kotler said the proposed building is sized to accommodate an overhead door for box trucks and a man door; he offered that the proposed manufactured building might be adjusted if necessary.

Board members questioned whether the two side-yard variances were necessary if the applicant chose to place the building on the lot line or make modest size adjustments. Kotler said he ‘‘we could do it at our lot line’’ and that being slightly off the line initially was to leave room for a walkway, but he was open to changes. Board members also discussed a Consumers Energy equipment box at the northeast corner; Kotler said he believed Consumers Energy holds an easement there.

After public comment was closed (no speakers), the board voted to approve the Hazen front setback variance (reduce 25 feet to 1.9 feet) and to eliminate the parking requirement for the site. The board then voted to table the two side-yard setback variances (the 25-foot-to-23-foot request adjacent to residential property and the 5-foot-to-2.5-foot request adjacent to the neighboring commercial building) to allow staff and the applicant to explore alternatives such as placing the building on the lot line, designing the building to meet a 5-foot setback, or pursuing neighbor agreements. Rowan advised tabling so there would be a procedural record and staff could continue to work with the applicant.

Next steps: the applicant may work with staff to revise plans, pursue a lot-line placement or return to the Board of Zoning Appeals with a revised request. If the board had denied a variance, the applicant would have had a one-year limitation to reapply for a similar relief; because the board tabled the two side-yard items, no denial was recorded.

Proper names: 2058 Calvin Avenue Southeast; Hazen Street; Kalamazoo; Burton; Consumers Energy; Grand Rapids.

Ending: The applicant was instructed to coordinate with staff on design and potential neighbor agreements; the board will review any resubmitted side-yard variance requests at a later meeting.