BZA clears space for tortilla maker and vocational infill housing

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved two use variances on March 12 that the board said support local economic activity and infill housing.

Elkhart SC Inc., represented and introduced in staff materials as Steven Ducat, asked to use a former Family Dollar at 1522 Casopolis St. for small-scale tortilla manufacturing, packaging and accessory on-site sales. Staff told the board the site is appropriate for that use with technical-review requirements (including grease-interceptor installation and building-plan approval). The petitioner said product deliveries will be by cargo vans and that retail hours and employee counts were compatible with the shopping center; the board approved the use variance and adopted staff findings.

Separately, the vocational building trades program (represented by Brandon Akins, director of the Elkhart Area Career Center) requested variances to construct a single-family infill dwelling at 1425 W. Indiana Ave in a B1 district, including relief for minimum square footage and reduced setbacks. Staff described the proposal as an infill project that would add housing in an area with existing residential uses and recommended approval, noting calculations for setback averages and the parcel configuration. The board approved the requested variances and adopted staff findings of fact.

Both approvals were accompanied by standard technical-review or building-department conditions (plans submitted, compliance with public-works requirements, and any necessary site adjustments).