Vigo County Board of Zoning Appeals approves multiple variances, including Riley dog‑boarding plan

The Vigo County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve multiple rezoning requests and variances at its March meeting, clearing the way for a Riley dog grooming and boarding business to operate with outdoor runs, expansions along North 13th Street, construction of a duplex on North Main Street, and a planned renovation of a burned apartment building on West National Drive.

Staff opened the meeting by summarizing administrative changes — a new nonreverting fee fund, a fee schedule effective May 1, and a change to Area Planning Commission meeting times to 5 p.m. starting May 1 — and said the office will begin accepting credit‑card and online payments through Tyler Technologies. No board action was required on those items.

On land‑use matters, staff presented written findings and recommended approval for each petition with customary conditions such as recording rezoning documents and obtaining improvement location permits. The board approved each petition by voice vote.

The board approved BCA 2/26 B‑2044, a request for two setback variances on North Main Street in Cedarville to allow construction of a duplex similar in style and placement to neighboring duplexes. Staff said the lot had been cleared after demolition of an older two‑story house and recommended approval with conditions for recording rezoning and issuing an improvement location permit. The president called the motion and the item passed by voice vote.

The board also approved BZA326V5109, a rezoning and four variances for a Sumner Properties LLC site on North 13th Street to allow a roughly 2,760‑square‑foot addition for overflow equipment storage. Staff noted the long‑established use of the site and existing screening by fences and mature trees, and said the APC and town had approved the rezoning.

A more detailed discussion arose over BZA5/26B, 7694 East 1st Street in Riley, where Hunter Ridge Holdings seeks rezoning from R‑1 to C‑7, a special exception for outdoor dog runs and play, and five variances tied to setbacks and parking. Staff told the board the absence of on‑site parking was the primary concern and reviewed ordinance parking and ADA requirements, recommending approval conditioned on town approval and arrangements for off‑street parking.

Attorney Richard Shagley, representing Hunter Ridge and the property owner, described the building as an aging structure previously occupied by an O’Reilly Food Mart and said the owner, Angela, is investing to rehabilitate it for dog grooming, boarding and training. "This building has been used for various things over years, but it has sat dormant for several, which is one of the reasons we're here because we lost the grandfather status, and it's a different use," Shagley said. He told the board the town of Riley had approved rezoning and ordinances to allow on‑street parking and that the owner plans screening fencing for outdoor runs and to place the ADA parking on a hard surface nearer the accessible door. No members of the public registered opposition in the hearing room; the board approved the special exception and variances by voice vote.

On West National Drive (BZA6/26, V‑4151), staff presented a petition from A2Z Rentals LLC to renovate an eight‑unit apartment building that had been damaged by fire and had lost legal nonconforming status. Staff noted sanitary sewer was not available at the site and that a state‑approved commercial on‑site wastewater system would be required. The applicant’s representative (also Richard Shagley) said the owners plan to renovate all eight units, provide roughly 16 parking spaces, and resolve ADA and septic issues during permitting; staff recommended approval conditioned on health department and building inspection approvals and recording of rezoning. The board approved the variances and rezoning request by voice vote.

Board members moved to close a separate burned‑property case file after staff displayed a photo and explained the closure process. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried by voice vote.

What the approvals mean: each approval was accompanied by staff‑recommended conditions — for example, recording rezoning petitions, obtaining required improvement location permits, and securing town or health department approvals where noted. For the Riley dog‑boarding approval, staff emphasized meeting ADA and parking rules and recommended a privacy screen fence between the business and the neighboring property.

Next steps: petitioners must complete required follow‑up steps: obtain any town approvals noted in staff conditions, submit improvement location permits and site plans where absent, and secure health and building approvals when required. The board recorded approvals by voice vote; individual roll‑call votes with names were not recorded in the transcript.