Hammond Board of Zoning Appeals approves three variances for Wallace Road homes and a setback variance for truck repair site

The Hammond Board of Zoning Appeals on a unanimous vote approved three developmental variances, allowing two Wallace Road homes to be built on 40‑by‑100‑foot lots and permitting a reduced rear‑yard setback for a semi‑truck repair garage.

Maurice Dawkins, the general contractor representing the petitioner for 6103 Wallace Road (Z‑26‑08), told the board the homes were redesigned to fit the smaller lots and to match nearby historic architecture: “Basically, yeah, we reduced the size of the home. We’re still meeting minimum setbacks,” he said. Staff recommended approval with conditions requiring the final design to respect the Pullman Standard Historic District and technical sign‑offs by city staff. The board amended staff language to specify a one‑and‑a‑half‑story home with a raised crawl space rather than a full basement and approved the variance, roll call 5–0.

A second, nearly identical petition for 6105 Wallace Road (D‑26‑09) was presented and approved under the same amended conditions. A neighbor who asked whether the two cases would be treated the same was told they would; staff confirmed the same design and technical review requirements apply.

Separately, Nancy Greer, identifying herself as the general contractor for TC Transport, described plans for a new 11,250‑square‑foot, metal‑clad repair building at 1325 Summer Street and said the project would add pavement and stormwater controls to a previously unpaved site. “The proposed building has been carefully designed to minimize impact on neighboring properties,” Greer said. Staff outlined stormwater detention (about 0.71 acre‑feet), pavement improvements and a building that will align with an existing structure; the board approved the rear‑yard setback reduction (Z‑26‑10) subject to final technical review, roll call 5–0.

All three approvals were conditioned on final technical review and sign‑off on building and site civil plans by city staff. The board recorded the findings of fact and passed the motions during the meeting.

What happens next: the approvals are subject to the standard permitting and plan‑review process; staff will perform final technical checks and circulate any revised staff report if new materials arrive.