Unspecified municipal board approves variances for Hill Park Drive site, Metro Drive triplex and 8-foot fence

An unspecified municipal board approved multiple zoning variances during a regularly scheduled meeting, including relief for a commercial site on Hill Park Drive, a reduced driveway setback tied to a proposed triplex on Metro Drive and an 8-foot fence to conceal construction trailers.

John Easley of Associated Engineering described site plans for the Hill Park Drive project and said the cityode requires
stub-out for cross access on new parking lots. Easley identified the Goddard School playground on the east side and Stewart Orthodontics on the west, and said the proposed building would offer rentable salon stalls. "We done site plans for a commercial development on Hill Park Drive," Easley said.

Board members questioned parking and access, including whether the project would forgo five to seven on-site spaces and how cross access to Mayfield Drive would work. After discussion, an unidentified board member moved to grant the requested variance as applied for; the motion was seconded and the board approved the variance in a roll-call vote.

The board then considered a driveway-setback variance for a proposed triplex on Metro Drive. The applicant said the triplex would function with driveways 5 feet from the property line rather than the 20-foot standard for commercial uses and that traffic would circulate in a one-way loop behind the building, exiting onto Fairfield. Members discussed sidewalk installation and turning radii and questioned language in the motion that read "5 feet or less." The mover amended the motion to state a "minimum of 5 foot" setback before the board voted to approve the variance.

Later, Trevor Matts, representing General General Contracting, asked for a variance to increase a perimeter fence from 6 feet to 8 feet to conceal construction trailers, citing safety and theft prevention. Matts offered drawings and photos and told the board the fire department had signed off on the layout. "We are requesting a variance to increase the, a fence that we wanna put on our lot from a 6 foot high to 8 foot high," Matts said, adding that the taller chain-link fence would use a windscreen to limit visibility into the yard.

Board members pressed Matts on the hardship standard required for variances and whether a 6-foot fence would be sufficient. The applicant argued that taller trailers and theft risk created a practical need. A board member moved to place the variance on the floor for a vote; the motion passed on a roll-call vote in which Miles, Miller and Bailey voted yes and Kapples voted no.

The board also approved the meeting minutes early in the session and adjourned with no further business.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as "Aye." (SEG 011
nd following)

- Variance: Hill Park Drive (site-plan/cross-access parking/stub-out) — Motion to grant as applied for; roll-call vote recorded in favor (affirmative votes recorded). (motion start: SEG 134)

- Variance: Metro Drive (triplex driveway setback) — Applicant sought a 5-foot driveway setback instead of the 20-foot commercial standard; motion amended to specify a "minimum of 5 foot" and approved. (discussion and amendment: SEG 294
nd following)

- Variance: Fence height (General General Contracting) — Request to raise fence from 6 to 8 feet to conceal construction trailers; applicant cited public safety and theft prevention and presented drawings; approved on roll call (Miles, Miller, Bailey yes; Kapples no). (motion start: SEG 567)

What happens next

Documents and drawings presented at the meeting were retained by staff; where motions referenced amended language the board directed staff to record the change (for example, the Wagner motion amended to a minimum 5-foot setback). No additional dates for reconsideration or appeals were announced during the meeting; the board adjourned after the votes.