Zoning board approves porch expansion and reduced side setback at 316 W. Main for accessibility

The Zeeland Zoning Board of Appeals on May 16 approved a dimensional variance permitting a wider covered front porch and a reduced east-side setback at 316 W. Main Ave to accommodate accessibility needs.

Vice Chairman Scott Bartolomei opened a public hearing shortly after 6 p.m., and Zoning Administrator Timothy Maday explained the request: the applicant asked for a 24-foot front setback where an averaged requirement of 27 feet applies and a 4-foot east sideyard setback where 10 feet is normally required under the R‑1 Single Family Residential standards. The project would replace a 24-by-4-foot porch with a 24-by-8-foot covered porch and include front stairs.

The applicant, homeowner Mark Congrove, submitted written responses addressing the Board’s practical-difficulty criteria and told the Board he bought the 1953 house three years ago and seeks the porch both to make the home accessible to a friend who uses a motorized wheelchair and to prepare for aging in place. In his written application responses Congrove stated, "No expected resale." He told the Board he currently uses a 15-foot portable ramp and said he did not intend to install a permanent ramp as part of the project.

Two neighboring households submitted letters in support. Pete and Sue Zwyghuizen, who own 319 W. Main, wrote that they "are happy to see improvements made to the houses in our neighborhood and feel that the proposed porch would improve the looks of the house and the neighborhood," and asked the Board to grant the application. Art and Linda Gonzalez of 310 W. Main wrote they had reviewed the plans with the applicants and "believe this will prove to be an improvement to the overall aesthetics and functionality of the property," noting the work will be done by a licensed contractor and in compliance with building codes.

Maday explained the zoning rules the Board applied: although the R‑1 district’s base front-yard requirement is 30 feet, the city’s ordinance allows an averaged front setback in blocks where existing setbacks are less than the standard; that calculation produced a 27-foot requirement for this lot. A survey referenced in the record shows a 5-foot right-of-way between the property line and the sidewalk; Maday noted that with that ROW the porch line would visually be close to a 29-foot setback from the sidewalk.

Board members questioned Congrove about ramp permanence, porch width and door swing. Board member Dave Stegink said he had no objection to the 4-foot sideyard setback and favored allowing an 8-foot porch depth so furniture and wheelchair maneuvering would be possible. Board member Linda Mergener moved to close the public hearing; the Board then voted on Motion 2023.02 to approve the variance for parcel 70-16-24-202-003 with a single stipulation: any temporary accessibility ramp must be removed from the front setback within 24 hours of placement. The motion passed 3–1 (Mergener, Stegink and Streeter aye; Bartolomei nay).

The approved findings recorded by the Board noted the pre-existing nonconforming front setback (the home predates the current ordinance), the narrow lot (50-foot lot width compared with a 60-foot ordinance standard), the applicant’s nonfinancial motivation, letters of neighborhood support and the proximity of the front building line because of the 5-foot right-of-way.

No further action on the item was scheduled at the meeting. The Board adjourned at 6:44 p.m.