Town of Porter

Board of Zoning Appeals Minutes

February 20, 2008

Town of Porter

Board of Zoning Appeals

Meeting Minutes

February 20, 2008

A. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Roll Call / Determination of Quorum

Present: Mr. Stinson, Mr. Huyser, Mr. Kremke, and Mr. Snyder

Absent: Mr. Bell

Also present were Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. Mandon and Mr. Lyp

D. Consideration of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Motion to accept the January 16, 2008 meeting minutes as written was made by

Mr. Stinson; second by Mr. Kremke. Motion passed via voice approval 4 – 0.

Motion to accept the minutes for the Executive Session held on August 15, 2007 was made by Mr. Kremke; second by Mr. Huyser. Motion passed via voice approval 4 – 0.

E. Audience Participation

None

F. New Business

None

G. Old Business and Matters Tabled

None

H. Preliminary Hearing

Application for variance made by Raymond Cahnman for the 20x100 ft. parcel adjacent to the south boundary of Duneland Drive and the west boundary of the alley bisecting Block 21 in the New York Stock Yards addition to Porter.

Attorney Bob Welsch, was present to represent his client, Raymond Cahnman. He gave a brief presentation of the variance requested by his client. The property is located at 311 Duneland Drive. The property is located on a steep dune, which presents a hardship for the client to build a 2-car garage for his personal use. Mr. Cahnman would like to build the garage on the adjacent 20x100 ft. property that he owns. Mr. Welsch went before TAC in January 2008 and they voted to recommend approval of the garage.

Mr. Mandon mentioned that the property owner has no other alternative to build the garage. He thinks this is a “one-of-a-kind” situation and should be looked at as so. The

location of the garage is not important to TAC. Mr. Mandon recommends that the location of the garage be specified upon approval of the variance.

Mr. Snyder asked for a footprint of the location of the garage at the Public Hearing. Mr. Welsch wants the garage to be in the best location for the Town and for his client. He also stated that the garage would be used for his clients personal storage of vehicles and for nothing else.

Motion to schedule the application for Public Hearing at the BZA March 19, 2008 meeting was made by Mr. Stinson; second by Mr. Huyser. Motion passed via voice approval 4 – 0.

I. Public Hearing

None

J. Finding of Fact

None

K. Update from Board of Zoning Appeals Attorney

Mr. Lyp informed the BZA that the WBEZ matter should be resolved soon. The WBEZ matter was coming before the Town Council at their next meeting on February 26.

L. Requests from Board of Zoning Appeals Secretary

None

M. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Kremke; second by Mr. Stinson. The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

______

Bruce Snyder

Chairman

______

Kara Mitchell

Secretary

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