By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus City Board of Zoning Appeals approved two area variances Tuesday afternoon.
Denise and Floyd Adkins had requested an area variance to add a 32-feet-by-26-feet glass-enclosed, four-seasons room to their home at 109 S. Spring St. The addition, which will house a pool for year-round exercise, does not configure to the city’s development standards in a R3 Urban Neighborhood Residential Zoning District, which requires the property to have at least a side yard of four feet and a rear yard of 20 feet. The lot must also be less than 50 percent developed.
According to the contractor’s plans that had been submitted to the board, the addition would only be three feet from each property line and would cause the lot to be nearly 100 percent developed with hard surfaces.
Zoning Administrator John Rostash also questioned the Adkins on what they would be doing to address any storm water and downspout issues that will arise from creating additional hard surfaces.
“You’ll have to make some sort of combination for that,” Rostash said. He added that it would not be an easy fix but that their contractor should be able to accommodate the drainage of extra storm water.
After reviewing the plans, board member Harry Lipscomb said the area was more or less a dead space. “They’re kind of locked in,” Lipscomb said. “What else are you going to do with the area?”
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved the area variance. The Adkins said they expected the project to begin in the spring.
Robert Vasil requested an area variance to split the lot at 119 E. Mary St. The buildings of the former Vasil Manufacturing plant sit on the lot, which consists of Inlots 53 and 58. As it stood, the lot, which had been grandfathered in, was non-conforming with the development standards of the General Business District. Any newly created lots must conform to the General Business District. Once the lot is split, the buildings would not meet the setback requirements or the 100-feet street frontage requirement.
After the lot split, Vasil will retain the two buildings on the corner of Walnut and Mary streets while the third building on the corner of Mary Street and the alley will transfer in ownership to his children. There is no common wall between the buildings though a walkway does separate them.
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved the area variance request with a maintenance easement for both parties.