By Nate Smith, Staff Writer
Probably the most interesting decision the Washington Board of Zoning Appeals faced Wednesday was one they did not have to make.
The board did not hear a conditional use request from Lighthouse Recovery Center to operate a foster home on 114 W. VanTrees St., the old St. Mary’s Rectory.
The permit that was tabled from September was withdrawn. After the meeting, Board President Don Spillman said the reason was the organization had not received a grant to purchase the property.
According to information from September’s meeting, the property was zoned commercial and had to have a conditional use permit for the sale to be complete. Currently, the Catholic Community of Washington owns the property.
No one from the Lighthouse was present at Wednesday’s meeting, but adjoining property owners were there. They left when they heard the request was withdrawn.
But the board did rule on two other property actions and tabled another request. The request that was tabled was for Dots Wagler, who asked for a variance for setbacks at 345S 100E. Wagler, who owns storage buildings on the property, is currently selling the business and one of the potential buyers asked that the setbacks be moved from 30 feet to five feet to build another storage building.
Neighbors on both the north and south sides of the property, including Emerald House, were against the variance. Van Kavanaugh, speaking for the company that owns Emerald House, said they are planning to add on and was not sure who the new owners of the Wagler property would be.
“We own the north and the west (adjoining properties) and when we are working with him (Wagler), we don’t have an issue,” Kavanaugh said. “We don’t know who is coming in there and who we will be working with.”
Due to an issue with legal notification and the sale, the variance request was tabled.
“If you (Wagler) were going to do it, I wouldn’t have a problem with it,” Spillman said. “But I want to hear from the guy who is going to do it.”
The board also heard of two legal issues with properties in the city. Washington Building Commissioner Chris Wimmenauer said the city is looking into an injunction on a garage that has been filled with junk on S.E. 11th Street. The owner was notified and had 30 days to clean the property up, but did not do so.
Also, a mediator has been appointed in the city’s dispute with property owned by the Riker family on W. Main Street. The mediator will rule on the property dispute.
In other business:
SIGN VARIANCE
The owners of Turfmasterz/Paul’s Outdoor Equipment were granted a variance to place a sign on a shed at Humey’s BBQ Restaurant, 727 SR 57S. No one was at the meeting to protest the sign’s placement. The vote was 4-0 with board members Bill Summers and Dan Grannan absent.
“I wish I thought of that first, that’s a good location,” Board member Dave Crooks said.
MOBILE HOME VARIANCE
The board granted a variance to Randal Chestnut to place a mobile home on property he owns at 1704 Cosby Road. All neighbors signed an agreement allowing the mobile home at the location.
“I think it is consistent with the neighborhood,” Board member Dan Gress said.
MEETING CHANGE
The board voted to change the date of November’s meeting from Nov. 24, the day before Thanksgiving, to Nov. 23.
