Variances Approved for Two Properties by Jasper Board of Zoning Appeals

At the Jasper Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Wednesday night, a public hearing was held to consider variance requests for two properties. 

Gina Beyke, as owner and petitioner of 349 S Kluemper Road, sought three variances for a property of approximately 4 acres which she and her husband purchased last year. Historically, the site had had multiple farm buildings, and the large barn was demolished last fall. The remaining buildings include a granary, a well house, and a chicken house. Beyke presented a proposal to demolish those two small buildings and construct a single new accessory building to replace them, resulting in three accessory structures. The board approved a variance from Section 16.7.10.A.3 (Chapter 7 Development Standards, Accessory Uses and Structures, Allowance) to allow more than two accessory structures, limited to three structures. 

The BZA approved a variance from Section 16.7.10.8.a (Chapter 7 Development Standards, Accessory Uses and Structures, Allowance) to allow an accessory structure greater than 300 square feet in base floor area that is not compatible in style and materials to the primary structure. Building construction for vehicle and general storage will be corrugated metal sides and stone front with a black-and-white color scheme. The new building is smaller than the removed barn and will use an existing driveway near the old barn location with a minor shift of driveway alignment to create a straighter approach. 

The footprint of the main structure will be 44 feet wide by 54 feet deep, plus a 12-foot open lean-to on the back, with a peak of approximately 24 feet that exceeds the 22-foot allowable. The board approved Beyke’s request for a variance of Section 16.4.5.C (Chapter 4 Districts, Low- Density Residential R1 district standards), not to exceed 24 feet. 

Todd Mehringer, as owner and petitioner of a property located at 1313 Main Street, presented plans for the construction of a carport at the back of his home. The structure would be 2 feet from the property line, but the neighbors have no objection and there is a privacy fence between the properties. The BZA suggested that Mehringer obtain a survey for the affected area, emphasizing the need to confirm the property line location due to the proposed columns being very close (2 feet) to the property line. The board approved the request for a variance from 16.4.7.C aka Chapter 4 Districts, Medium Density Residential (R3), District Standards, of the City of Jasper’s Unified Development Ordinance to allow an accessory structure side setback to be less than the required 7.5 feet. 

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- By Drew Hasselbring