St. Joseph County board grants variance allowing house lot without road frontage on Bittersweet Road

The St. Joseph County Area Board of Zoning Appeals on Feb. 11 granted a variance to allow a proposed Lot 2 of a two-lot subdivision on Bittersweet Road to be created without frontage on an accepted and improved public road.

Area Plan Commission staff member Sean Klein told the board the existing house on the southern end of the property sits more than a third of a mile from the nearest right of way and said the house is not visible from public roads. Klein said an ingress/egress easement and address signage would provide emergency responders equivalent access: "In terms of emergency response to that house, it's already not visible from any right of way," he said, adding that signage at the end of the easement "would be equally effective."

Terry Lang, representing the petitioners, said the owner proposes a 25-foot easement to reach the house and estimated the driveway would run about 1,800 feet from the road. Lang said utilities are extending into the area and that keeping the lot configuration narrowly tailored preserves the balance between selling an existing homestead and protecting surrounding tillable acreage.

No members of the public spoke in favor or against the petition at the hearing. After questions from board members about hydrants and easement width, board member Dr. Lauck moved "to approve the variance as presented with any staff conditions imposed," and Tom Byers seconded. The board voted in favor on the record and the chair said the board would issue written findings documenting its decision.

The approval allows the petitioners to proceed with the subdivision process subject to staff conditions and any platting requirements. The board indicated fire officials would be asked to weigh in on whether the proposed easement provided adequate emergency access at the time of plat approval.