Marshall County BZA approves requests

Friday, October 11, 2024 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

This week the Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a setback request, a variance of use request, a request for a special use, and a variance of development standard request.

There were no comments during any of the public hearings.

The board met Tuesday evening in the County Building with only three members present, so each of the four requests to pass the votes had to be unanimous.

Brian Denk was granted a lakeside setback reduction from 45 feet to 10 feet and a side yard setback reduction from 10 feet to 6 feet at 9043 Birch Drive at Lake of the Woods. The request was to create an addition to an existing 13 by 20 patio that will be 10 feet from the floodplain by adding an aluminum roof.

Eddie Borkholder at 8126 6^th Road was granted a variance of use to allow an existing building to be used for a warehouse, office, and retail space. Currently, most of the business is handled through call-in and catalog orders of seeds, herbicides, trail cameras, scents, and other deer hunting and land management items. Borkholder said they are growing the business and want to open a retail business with plans of securing a new location. In the meantime, they were approved to operate at the current location as long as they moved an existing fuel tank to the east side of the building.

Arlene and Lavon Borkholder at 492 U.S. 6 Nappanee in German Township were granted a special use to allow a 12-foot by 28-foot building to be used to kiln dry lumber at the existing business. They were also granted a variance of development standards to allow the west side yard setback from the required 15 feet to 5 feet for the construction of the new building for drying lumber.

County Plan Director Ty Adley told members of the Board of Zoning Appeals that he’s anticipating a special meeting on November 7 for the Tamarack Solar Project in Burr Oak. Adley believes the special meeting will be held in the Plymouth High School Auditorium although nothing has been confirmed yet.