Plain City’s Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve an area variance for 225 Central Avenue on November 12, permitting the village to place an accessory public works building 5 feet from the side property line instead of the 20-foot setback required in the RU zoning district.

During a public hearing, planning staff explained the applicant is the Village of Plain City and that the site is zoned RU (rural), an anomaly in that section of town that was never rezoned when the sewer plant and related facilities were established. Speaker 2 told the board the administration is requesting a reduction from a 20-foot side-yard setback to 5 feet so the village can locate a new garage on the parcel instead of purchasing property elsewhere. Staff described the proposed building dimensions as roughly 40 by 80 feet (about 5,200 square feet).

Neighbors and board members asked whether the project would affect adjacent residential properties or add traffic. Speaker 1 said the trucks and equipment currently on site will be relocated into the new building and that the project would not add traffic beyond what is already present. Staff also noted a tree line south of the property and that the city owns the adjacent parcel, which reduces potential impacts.

The board considered the six findings in section 11.38.05 of the zoning code, asking whether the property has beneficial use without the variance, whether the variance is substantial, whether neighborhood character would be altered, whether governmental services would be affected, whether the purchaser knew zoning restrictions, and whether feasible alternatives exist. The board agreed the variance was substantial but concluded the spirit of the ordinance would be observed, that the variance was justified by need rather than convenience, and that adjoining properties would not suffer substantial detriment.

Speaker 3 called for a motion to approve the findings of fact; the recorded votes on that procedural motion show Miss McCoy, Mister Ehler, and Mister Hovier voting yes. Speaker 3 then moved to approve variance 25-7 and Speaker 5 seconded. The transcript records Mister Hogan, Nicholas Aylor and Miss McCoy voting yes on the final approval and the chair announced the variance was granted.

The variance applies only to the side-yard setback; staff said the rear-yard setback requirement remains unchanged and was not under consideration. Construction was discussed as occurring next year; staff said properties within 250 feet of zoning requests receive notification for zoning applications (but not for construction notices). The board’s approval allows the village to proceed with planning for the new public works building on the specified parcel. The board then moved to adjourn.