The Big Rapids Zoning Board of Appeals approved a use-variance Tuesday to allow two single-family units at 128 North Warren, permitting owner Jack Frizzle to use both sides of the building as residential units in an RP (Residential Professional) zone.

The board approved the application after staff recommended conditional approval. Michelle, planning staff for the City of Big Rapids, told the board that "staff recommended approval with the stipulation that they have to be single family, that it can't be used for multifamily" and that the applicant must enroll rental units in the city program. Frizzle told the board he applied because "the supply of office spaces is larger than the demand and the supply of good clean residential non student units are in short supply." Frizzle said one side of the duplex has been occupied as a single-family unit for several months and the other side had varied occupancy in prior years.

Why it matters: The RP district allows primarily single-family residential use, with limited commercial uses. The variance lets the property operate as two single-family units while the board emphasized that the use must not convert to multifamily occupancy (for example, more than four unrelated occupants under R‑3 rules). Staff noted the request aligned with the city’s master-plan goals to increase downtown housing density.

The board discussed standards for a variance, including whether the property could be reasonably used for permitted purposes without relief and whether the request would alter the character of the area. Planning staff said RP is a transition zone with many existing nonconforming uses and that the property's historic uses included both residential and small-office uses. Board members said the duplex "blends in" with the surrounding mixed residential character and raised no recorded complaints about the property's recent residential use.

The board approved the variance with two expressed conditions: each side must be limited to single-family occupancy and, if rented, the units must be enrolled in the city’s rental program and pass required inspections. The motion cites the standards in sections 13.5 and 13.6 of the zoning ordinance and directed staff to follow up on enrollment and inspection requirements.

The applicant was advised to contact city staff to complete enrollment after the meeting. No written objections were filed with staff and no members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing.

The variance allows the owner to register the two units as single-family rental units under the conditions the board imposed; it does not change the RP zoning designation and does not authorize multifamily occupancy beyond single-family limits.