SPENCER, Ind. — The Owen County Board of Zoning Appeals approved three design-variance requests and approved meeting minutes in a series of largely uncontested votes at its Aug. 20 meeting. The board recorded vote tallies of 3-0 on the approvals; one other high-profile use-variance request (the Holloway gift shop) was denied and is reported separately.

Votes and key details

- Design variance, Hiden Road parcel (applicant seeks to split a parcel and allow a home on a new parcel under one acre): Motion to accept the design variance carried by voice vote; board members noted the parcel will later require rezoning because the property remains zoned agricultural. Staff confirmed public notice and the board specified that administrative steps to record the split (survey recordation and a deed establishing the new parcel) must be completed. Vote: 3-0.

- Design variance, Austin Bayer (pole barn at 7962 State Highway 43): Applicant Austin Bayer described septic-layout constraints that make standard setbacks impractical; the board cited neighbor support and approved the variance. Vote: 3-0.

- Design variance, Chris and Miranda (pole barn at 8031 Franks Hill Road): The owners said the pole barn was built while miscommunications about permits were unresolved; the highway department inspected the site and said the location would not block sight lines. The board approved the variance with a stipulation that the owners complete the recorded survey and deed to formally create the new parcel. Vote: 3-0.

- Approval of minutes: The board approved minutes for the July (and related) draft minutes by voice vote. Vote: 3-0.

Each approved design-variance item was accompanied by staff directions about next administrative steps (record survey, prepare paperwork for signing, or follow-up with planning staff). Board members emphasized that a future rezoning is required where parcels remain zoned agricultural but are being reduced in size.

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