Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Officer - Regular Meeting

folks, I'd like to call on you to order, please. So first item is a pledge. So I'll just stand up and excite the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

Okay, and the first item is correspondence. Case DB-2026-17. Jeff Barton will not be heard at this time. He will be rescheduled to the next meeting. Any other correspondence at this point? No. Nothing? Okay. All these cases are public hearing cases. Read the conduct, so bear with me. At the public hearing before the board, the petitioner or proponent shall first present the facts and arguments in support of the case. Those who oppose the petitioner shall follow. The petitioner shall have a little time at the conclusion of those opposing the petitioner. Those opposed shall then be allowed a total maximum of 10 minutes to rebut any new statements made by the petitioner in this rebuttal. It should be within the discretion of the board to impose any time limitation on either the petitioner or respondent and to limit public comment to those determined by state statute to the interested parties. The document remonstrance shall be accepted by the board, but need not to be read into the board's record. This then concludes the public hearing. To maintain orderly procedure, each side shall proceed without interruption by others. All materials presented by the petitioner and or remonstrators or supporters to the petition, including photographs, shall become property of the board and part of the record. Okay, the first case, D.B. Dash, 2026-28. Applicant is James Freisinger. Carol Carlson with Milmar Buildings, location 106 Hackney Lane, Valparaiso, in Center Township. Zone is R1, low density, single family residential district. Acreage is 2, request to permit the construction of a 74 by 35 foot accessory structure and vary from a following. First, to allow placement to be in the front yard. Second, to allow an increase in maximum height. The code is 20 feet. The request is 25 feet and one inch. Third, to exceed a massive floor area. The code is 1,742 square feet. The request is 2,590 square feet. Okay, with that, sir, state your name and address.

James Friesinger, 106 Hacking Lane, 4-6-3-8-5. Okay.

Tell us why you're here and why you need the variance.

Yeah, so I'm here for a variance for a recreational building on my property. The height and the size of it are due to my kids play sports, right? It's a recreational building, so the height and width is related to basketball, so it fits... not the entire half court, basketball court, but allows you to get a full arc, like a three-point arc within there. And then the height also allows for the arc of the basketball to be able to like shot without constantly hitting the ceiling. And then, right, the placement of it due to the size or the shape of my property and kind of the backsides of it and runoff creeks, the proposed location is like the only like feasible place to put the property or the building.

That's it? Okay. Yes.

Okay.

It's a public hearing. Anybody want to speak in favor of this case? In favor of this case? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or have any questions on this case? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. This is a very large pulpit. Okay, very large for the area. Yeah, I drove out there twice, and it's, I think it's out of character. I drove several different blocks, both directions, and there's detached garages, there's a coal barn, so I've walked home more sheds, but nothing like this, especially in front yard. Okay. Yeah, I can't. Yeah, I can't approve this. In the front yard, it's very, very large. It's our character for subdivision. It doesn't fit. So I'm sorry. I'd like to deny this. Oh, okay. Okay. So I'd like to deny DV-2026-28. All right. Sorry. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Thank you. Next case is DB-202629. Applicant Adam Nicole Bourne. Location 594 South 400 West Hebron. Porter Township. Zone is 8-1. Acreage 33 acreage. Request to allow it to post 48 by 72 Bull Barn to exceed the maximum height from 20 feet to 24 feet inches. State your name, address, and purpose, please.

Adam Bourne, 594 South, 400 West, Hebron, Indiana. The variance for the extra height for our pool buildings, for a camper, for a high enough door to get a camper in, forklift, a few other pieces of equipment.

That's it. It's for personal storage? Yeah. Yep. That's it. Okay. So public hearing. Anybody want to speak in favor of this case? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or any questions on this case? Yeah, we'll close the public hearing. Why so tall? Why so high?

To get a 14-foot garage door with that 48-foot that's... That's what you need to get. I tried looking at scissor trusses and you still can't get that 14-foot door. If we get a camper that's 13-foot tall, get it in there. That's our plan for the future is to get a bigger camper.

Yeah, the scissor truss gives you the center. Right, but you still don't get it on the other side. Okay. Well, you're way back off the road. You're at least, what, 500, 600 feet? Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. It's all wooded. Mm-hmm. So I don't see affecting the neighbors at all. As a matter of fact, I think across the street there's a farm. Yeah. Yeah, with silos and big buildings. Yeah. Pull out your driveway. Right. And they're on 30 acres, so really it doesn't affect. It's in the middle. Yeah, nobody's. It doesn't affect anybody, so. Any questions? Any questions?

No, sir.

Okay, with that, I will approve case DV-2026-29 with the understanding you assigned commitment. It's only for personal storage. Yep. Not to operate business. Nope. You have the documents for the signs. Okay. Okay, so you're approved. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Good luck. In this case, it's DV-026-30, applicant Sarah Langer, location 435 East State Road 2, Valparaiso, Washington Township, As always, our rural residential district acreage is 17 and a half acres. We proposed 60 foot by 80 foot addition to existing pole barn with an increase in maximum permitted height from 20 feet to 22 feet in order to match the height of the existing structure. Okay.

Sarah Langer, address 435 East State Road 2, Valparaiso, Indiana, 46383. And like you said, currently there is already a pole barn on site where a portion of it is concrete and then another portion is dirt. And I want to extend the pole barn, so the dirt portion, so that I can have an indoor riding arena. And so I want it to be 22 feet so it matches the existing building already on the property.

Strictly be used for arena?

Yes, a riding arena for my two horses.

Okay, thank you. Public hearing again. Anybody want to speak in favor? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or any questions? Yes, sir. Come up. There's a microphone right here. State your name and address and your statement.

My name is Ron Hemminger, 387 Deep Draw Drive, Valparaiso. I'm in the property just through the woods, I guess to the west. I wouldn't say so much opposed right now, just more concerned on if it is for personal use, that was the one concern that you answered. The other concern would be any sort of water runoff that's going to affect any of the area as well, and if the building is going to encroach anywhere on that wooded section, because we noticed a lot of trees being removed in that area.

So the woods that the trail's been built on is my own property. So we built trails on my own property and two of the neighbors own property with their approval that they wanted that done. And it's just extending the, you know, it's just for me and my two horses. And there's also a neighbor, Kathy Hine, who has two horses. And so she would also be using my arena for her personal horses. I know we walk to each other's properties. We don't, you know, there's no driving or other people coming in. And as far as drainage, really the only... you know, the rain that comes off my existing pole barn, it pools around my existing property. And it's, I own 17 and a half acres. It doesn't go up the hill to the trees, the area where you live, you'd have to go all the way up hills and trees to get water to your property. So it should not affect your property at all.

Okay. So it's, it's being, Oh, sorry. So it's being added to the existing building. It's going to be going north of the existing building.

Yes, they will. You're going to add it to the existing building?

To the existing building, okay. That was my concern.

There won't be two separate buildings you're adding to the building?

Yes, sir.

Okay, thank you. Okay, so it will be the same color facade?

Absolutely, yes.

Okay, any other questions? I didn't. Okay, thank you. Thank you. And I did walk the property in the drains, you're right. It's low, so it stays on your property.

Yes.

bothers me if anything well the drainage stays on her property i did check that yeah it's a low it's low area so it's still okay you're not going to run a business out of the state it's going to be a jerky for you your neighbor is not an open business arena for horses no absolutely not no absolutely not okay we still have a Okay, you're right. Anybody else want to speak? I'm sorry, we've got to close the public hearing. Anybody else want to speak against? Okay, thank you. I'll close that. Okay, any other questions? Okay, okay. What color will the pole barn be when you complete it? You're going to put the two together. You're going to put your addition on. What color?

It will match the existing with the white and the green, and it's the same company, FBI, that made the original building that will be making the extension, so it should match pretty perfectly.

Does she have to sign any documents so that she won't operate a business?

Yeah.

Okay, you have to sign a document if you want to operate a business.

Okay, yeah, absolutely.

Where it's not living quarters or nothing like that. No. You have, what, 17 acres?

I just want to ride my horses inside.

I've seen horses.

Yeah.

With that, like the approved case, DB-2026-30. You're approved.

Sorry, just one question. When do I get the actual building permit?

Well, you can call the building department and ask them where your permit is.

Okay.

Ask them where your permit status is. Okay. Make sure to write it down.

Thank you. Okay, case DV-2026-31, applicant Steven Julius Surak, location 811 North Center Street, Westville, Jackson Township, Zonies RR Group Residential. Acreage is 1.12. Request to allow proposed 24 by 32 foot accessory structure to vary from following. First, allow reduction in side yard setback from 15 feet. Request to 10 feet. Second, to exceed maximum floor area, allow 1,300 square feet. Existing is 1,200 square feet. Request is 1,088 square feet. So you will be over 988 square feet. State your name and address and your agency.

Steven Sirak, 811 North Center Street, Westville, Indiana, 46391. Purpose. Oh, purpose. I'm sorry. Hobart for additional storage for personal stuff. That's it.

Why decide your subcontract?

I'm sorry? The setback? I originally thought it was 5 feet, and then I thought it was 10 feet, and I didn't know it had changed to 15 feet. And when I made the thing, we can actually move it another 5 feet. That's not a problem. It's just I was trying to keep it as close to property land as possible. So, yeah, because when I built the first one, I think it was five feet, and then it went to 10 feet, and then I haven't done anything in 30 years. 30 years, so I didn't know it changed.

Okay. It's a public hearing. Anybody want to speak in favor of this case? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or any questions on this case? Seeing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. Yeah, I don't think you need that variance for that corner. I think you just slide it over. I said, you show me where the run is. I think it'd be 10 feet away from the lab room. Oh, right. And you're, you're, you're playing.

Okay.

I think we stepped it off like 20 feet. Right. Yeah. So I don't, I don't think.

Yeah. Like I told you, I had some stones in the yard. She said, get them out of the yard.

So you don't need that variance. Yeah.

I just like to keep everything inside. I don't, you know, sit outside.

No, he complains that my stuff is in his pole barn. I have a car I only drive in the summer and a John Deere gate. That's it. A couple gardening tools.

A couple gardening tools.

It's going to be my barn. Yeah. Yeah, right here.

And it's on an angle, see? Yeah. But he thought the septic was closer. It's not. And we're sure that septic's not. Oh, yeah. It is 20 feet away from what the stakes were. Yeah.

And you had a detached garage, right?

No, our garage is attached.

It is attached?

Yeah. He has a whole barn, right? Yeah. This is the second pole bar. Correct. Correct. Does it have to be that large? Does it have to be this large since you're over almost 1,000?

Yeah, I wanted to make it bigger, and I thought, well, 24 by 32. I was going 24 by 30, but the contractor said it would be cost-effective to go the other two feet longer because I'd be paying for the additional wood anyway. Right. Right. That's kind of why we wanted to put it at the end of the property. It was out there by the garden and stuff. And it's abandoned right away next to it, you know, behind it. So there's not really anything around there. Except my daughter behind us.

Yeah, you can't add to it because the house is behind you. Yeah, that's my daughter though. Well, you're on a dead end street.

Yes.

Yeah, so that helps you. I have a lean-to on it also. A lean-to, of course.

Of course.

Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm hard of hearing. Okay. If you take a lean-to off, how much? square feet do you need?

We can take that off. It was just to look cute.

Yeah, so I'm trying to make it smaller.

Yeah, we can take it off.

Okay. So is it part of the 24-32? No.

Yeah. No, the actual barn size is 24 feet wide.

By 32.

And then by 32. And then what they were going to do is where the roof, what do you call that roof? Damp. The roof where it comes down, they were just going to extend it to have like a sitting area.

Well, I don't think we advertised correctly.

We can take it off. That's not a problem to lean to.

Yeah, if we approve it, it's without the link to.

That's fine.

That's fine. Or it's your link to, whatever you call it.

It was just to have a porch over the door, you know, if it was raining or whatever. Yeah. When I get hot in my garden, you go sit under the sheet.

Can you screen it at all with trees, pine trees?

We plant pine trees.

Can you screen it?

Yeah, it's fine.

You can't?

yeah we should be able to find pine trees where i guess in front because i guess i'm concerned about i know you're on dead end street but you still get two pole marks one each side of the house well the my garden is right in front of where that's going to be and there's a privacy fence there is a fence yeah so it's kind of blocked from the road as far as the view is that what you're worried about the

Try and screen it to break it up a little bit. If you put some pine trees, half a dozen pine trees or something. I thought the fence was on the other side of your garden. You got your garden and the fences on the far side would be the north side. Is that correct? Am I facing right?

Well, we used to have a fence on the north side, but there's also a fence that will be directly in front of it that

The garden's a big square area there, and only part of the pole barn is actually outside of that fence. But I mean, that's not a problem planting trees. I mean, we have extra.

That was just to keep the animals out, but it will also serve to block off the view of the barn from growth because of... Yeah, if you go plant half a dozen pine trees.

You know, he screams it. You know, she'd come down the road.

Yeah. Kind of like our neighbor across the street. Yeah, we could do that.

You commit to that?

Yeah. Yeah, that's not a problem. We already actually have them. Yeah.

They've been in the pot for three years.

So what size would they be when you plant them? What size? How tall are they?

They're blue spruce, so they get... They get tall.

They're arborvitae.

Arborvitae. So they get... They're kind of like, I don't know if you remember, but the back of the property when you were there, that's what we had planned there. Yeah. We actually planted those before that was my daughter's property.

Okay.

They're six feet tall now.

If you could screen at six, eight, whatever.

Okay.

What do you want to commit to?

Eight.

Eight? Okay. All right. I will approve case DB-2020. to 6-3-1 approval with the understanding of the pole barn will be 24 by 32 feet without the porch or lane two, and it will plant some screening, eight pine trees or rebites.

Yep.

Okay. I'm sorry.

They don't need it.

Yeah, side yard is denied. I'm sorry. Side yard is denied. You don't need that variance.

You don't need the variance.

Okay. Do you understand? I want to make sure you understand.

You don't need to sign your setback anymore.

No.

So we're going to need revised plans. Show us where you're going to put your trees at and where the full barn is going. Without the lean-to, bring it to the building department so we can read the student permit.

Okay. So bring that. So when we do that, bring that to the building department and get the permit at the same time?

I don't know at the same time, but we'll need to see your plan. Okay.

Like the drawing I already did, just the updated drawing?

Yes.

Okay.

But you don't need to decide your setback anymore, so you need to move it over.

move it over another five yeah that was not approved so okay just double check your your subject like you showed me yeah if it's there well yeah i already made sure it's 20 feet from where i'm at now yeah you're good yeah i wasn't quite sure what was allowed so i would 10 feet 10 feet okay and you have to sign a document it won't be used for business or for the reporters no no i'm done With that, you're approved.

Thank you.

All right. Good luck.

Thank you.

Yeah, sure. Next case is DV-2026-32. Applicant Raymond and Christine Parker. Location is 338 Mount Jackson Avenue, Chesterton, Indiana, Jackson Township. Zoning is RR, Rural Residential District. Acreage is 1.3. Request to allow acreage to the maximum floor area. for a proposed 40 by 30 foot addition to existing 25 by 37 foot essentially structure. What's allowed is 1,300 square feet. Existing is 1,165 square feet. You are requesting 1,200 square feet. You are over 1,065 square feet. Hello. Address and purpose, please.

My name is Ray Parker, 338 Mountain Jackson Avenue. I'm here asking for a variance for extra square footage for a pole barn attachment. Purpose? For personal use? It's going to be for personal use. I have a car hobby, and they take up room. I can't have them outside due to their value. Okay.

All right. Public hearing? Anybody want to speak in favor?

yes come up to the mic please state your name and address please rachel sone 333 mount jackson avenue where the neighbors just to the side um a little bit of a mix of both the way they explained it kind of alleviated our concern from our property so we're not particularly worried about seeing a giant pole barn from our property the entire time. We are a little bit still concerned about water runoff since we've been fighting water in our basement. So just wanted to register that. Okay.

That's it?

Yep.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else want to speak in favor? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or any questions? Okay. You want to answer the runoff, please?

Your driveway to your second garage is higher than the property line. Going all the way down towards the back, water runs straight back. It does not go even towards your property at all. It's just the way the grade works and gravity. So there's absolutely no way I could cause water from my property to get to your house. Well, she's on the right side. What side of the house? If you're looking at my property, hers.

Yeah. You see the, I guess that would be. What side? If you're looking at your house, what side?

See here?

Correct. Okay, she's there.

Yeah.

Okay. Yeah, it does run straight back. I walk the property. So, you won't have a problem with that. Okay. Okay, public hearing is closed. It's awful large. Can you make it smaller?

Maybe 30 by 30. I'm sorry, what? 30 by 30, and I could still be able to use it for what we're trying to do.

And I'll tell you what issue I have with that, too, is L-shaped. And L-shaped does not fit the neighborhood. I drove around, and people have their sheds and pole barns, and they're all straight. This one would be L-shaped, and it stands out more being L-shaped.

If we did the 30 by 30, that would take 10 feet off of the L, if that would help a little bit? I'm thinking go straight back.

Put it there with your horse. And you go straight back. L-shaped, it's a stick-out one. You don't realize it, but once you construct it, it's going to look large, very large. This way here, wall fixture here, it will fit.

It's basically an extended roof line.

The character in there would, with the L shape, it would look more commercial. It would. So I'm not a fan of the L shape.

Okay. The same width thing, a 24 by 32. Just like the last gentleman said, if you do 30, you're wasting it. number, just the sizes that they come in. Everything's an 8-foot. I'm sorry, I can't tell you. 24 by 32, I could do that route, continuing the same roofline.

What can you do?

What size? 24, which is the existing, and then 32 foot longer. 32 foot longer? Yes.

She's figuring it out now. Okay. I have 24 by 30 is asking for an additional 585, so an extra two feet, let's say maybe 600, asking for. So you're asking for 24, the same width. All right. Well, you actually got 25 on here. You got, on this type, you got 25 by 37. Is that your existing?

Well, you know what? Here's the thing. The assessor has it as one thing. They wrote one thing. I went with what the assessor had. Okay. Because I have to know what they're getting taxed on. All right.

My doubt is 25. It's 24 by 36.

They messed up here. That's odd.

You should know what you have. I've measured it multiple times. So you're suggesting 24 by 32. Correct. Okay. All right.

It'd be a straight, straight, same side.

And look exactly the same. And if I can't find the same color metal, I will paint it like I did the last one. Everything a match.

Any questions? No, I'm good. 24 white. 32. It'd be a, yes, sir. It'd be a catch.

Yes.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Okay. Okay. I'd like to make a motion to approve case DB-2026-32 with the understanding that the pole barn will be addition to the existing pole barn. The addition will be 24 by 32, 24 white, same one, by 32. It would match the facade. Correct. Okay. And it would not be L-shaped. And it would be used only for personal business. And you have to sign a document. So, you know, it would be used for personal business, not business or living quarters and all that.

Just for me.

Okay. You're approved.

Thank you.

Now, turn into your new site plan, like Christy's thing. That's a new updated drawing. Yep. Next case is DB-2026-33. The applicant is Susan Kujalski, Carol Carlson with Milmar Buildings, location 463 South 800 West Hebron. Porter Township, zone is A1, acreage is 20. Request to allow it to pose a deep by 120 horse riding stable. First, it's allowed increase in maximum height from 20 feet. Request is 28 feet and 6 inches. Second, to allow the structure to be located in the front yard.

I'm Sue Kajalski, 463 South County Line Road, Hebron, 46341. And I'm requesting a variance for height and I'm requesting a variance for height for the riding arena and then because I'm on a corner lot, there's a frontage issue. So I'm requesting that it be placed on, it'll be west of the barn.

Okay, all right. Okay, that's it. Okay, that's your request, okay. It's a public hearing, anybody want to speak in favor?

I do have letters from my neighbor across the street.

You can turn.

Would you see the building?

Yeah. Okay, thank you. Okay, so public hearing, anybody want to speak in favor of this case? Seeing none, anybody want to speak against or any questions on this case? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Okay, this is from your neighbor?

Yeah, the gentleman across the street I told you about yesterday.

No objections, okay.

He's the only one that would see it from his yard.

Oh, so you had three copies?

Yeah, I didn't know if everybody wanted a copy.

Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Why so large?

Because you need it for the safety of the rider and the horse to have, to be able to work the horses, to lunge them and work them.

Okay.

And I'm asking for the height because it's 14 feet minimum is what I'm asking. The peak then becomes higher because of the way the roof is structured with the pitch and all of that. So 14 feet is actually the minimum amount that I can have in a riding arena to be safe for horse and rider. I do have documentation if you want to see that.

guess okay i understand what you're saying but the other resident she wanted a 22 feet for writing arena that's just a proof how can she get by from my knowledge i might question you but why how can she get by 22 feet and you need 28. i don't know about the square footage of the building rather than the height um

The larger size of the riding arena puts that peak a little higher.

So since the building is wider, that peak keeps coming up higher. So it sounds like she was building a bit smaller of an arena than Susan is.

Hers was, I see here, I'll tell you here in a second. 60 by 80. Yes.

Yeah, that's. That's really small. Because if you're, 60 is the absolute minimum width you can have. And then typically, I have something from the University of Kentucky that basically says, if you're going to go 60, you have to have at least double the width. So I'm asking for 80, 70. It's 60 to 80 is what was recommended. But I'm only going to 120. I'm not doubling the 80 width to 160. But I need that space to be able to work all the horses. I have three. So two of us go in there. Personal use? Yeah, personal use.

I don't have a problem with writing statements, but this is huge. It's a huge problem.

So to be able to run and canter in there, you don't want it closed in on the horses. If we ride the three at the same time, then it becomes more of an issue where you need to be able to separate them out.

How many people are going to be riding at the same time?

Me and my friend who owns the horses.

Any opportunity to make it smaller? I mean,

I mean, we could go 70.

We could go a little bit narrower. Maybe we're already at a 412 pitch. Could possibly get that down to a shorter pitch. We could go 212, 312 to take a few feet off of that. But...

So that would bring it down, right?

Yeah, that would bring it down a little bit as far as the height.

We change the pitch?

Yeah. You have to change the pitch. That's what you do. It will be a 311 pitch.

What's that?

Yeah, three.

I would go to two just to give it the most possible height reduction.

And scissor trusses don't help you because you need a whole height in science. Exactly. Is there any other trusses? What's that? Is there any other trusses, any other modifications you could do to give it a height? Ah.

Not really. No, we've kind of been over that one a few times. And the only way I can see to do, like the best thing I could do here was reduce the roof pitch. Okay. Which, I mean, trusses are slightly more expensive, but that's nothing you guys are worried about.

How about snow load? Any issues with snow load?

That's specifically why they're more expensive. They take a little bit more, they need to be a little bit more robust in order to handle the snow load at that angle.

and how much will they reduce to height?

So going from 212 to, from 412 to 212 over an 80-foot span, so 42 inches, 80 inches, that's going to be about a little over 7 foot, or a little under 7 foot, sorry. So then we're at 28.6, that would put us at... 21-something.

I don't know if I like that 212.

I'm not sure how it's going to look. It's not as pretty. Almost flat. Right. It's not quite as nice looking. I very much like the steeper peaks.

How about 312?

312, so 40 times 3, 120. That puts us at 14 plus 10, 24.

To the peak. So it'd be 24? The building would be 24?

Yep.

And what size will the building be?

That'll be 80 by 120.

What's the height of your pole bar now?

Where the horses are?

Yeah.

couldn't tell you inside i think it's probably what do you think is inside there i've never measured it maybe what do you think you got a ceiling height at because i could guess about the barn oh in the barn i i don't know i'd have to measure it it's 14 15 in there monica do we have that record i'm sorry I've never measured where the horses are in the barn. It's got the open trusses. Okay. What do you think it is in there? 14, 15 feet?

Yeah, if you're at like 14 feet, you might be at 12.

Okay.

And then add 40 inches for the roof.

Yeah. I don't know. I've never measured it.

So then that'll be 15.

So we can lower the pitch by using the 320? Yes. Okay. So then it's four feet. Okay.

I don't see it. I think it's 20 or 22 that you have. Over here? Yeah, your existing pole barn. Oh. Do you have that record? I don't have that record, no.

We don't have that. It's not here.

We don't have it. I don't see it on here.

I could go out and measure it. You're talking inside height, or are you talking to the peak on that barn?

Overall height.

Oh, I don't know.

Yeah, I know. I don't know what that is. So you're saying you could live with 70 by 120? Is that what you're saying?

I'd prefer to keep it at 80 at 120, and we change the pitch and lower it to 24 instead of 28.6. Okay.

Now, if you change it to 70... If you kept your pitch at 412, what would the height be? 35, so 35 inches, so plus 3. Sorry.

70, so we have 35 foot over and then. So then 3 times 35.

I gave you more time if you want to think about it. You come back after the last case. Give me just a moment to do a little math here.

35.

That's all right.

Your time. 35 times.

Yeah, I keep. 165. 5 times 3 equals 5.

5 by 12 equals 8.75. So that puts us at about.

21.

22.9 22.9 yep that's 70 feet wide 120 at length but you're saying you can't live with that i would i would really like the extra 10 feet especially when we tie the horses up along the sidewall when we're riding gives us more room

Now the business, are you part of the business, the K-9 business behind all this?

Yeah, but this has nothing to do with that. These are my personal horses. It's totally same property, right, separate.

But what size are those horses?

The training center is like 80, I think it's 85 by 100. I think that's what that one is.

The one 85 by 100.

When you come in, the R1? Yeah.

R1?

I think that's what that is. That has been a while since I built it.

Several pole bars.

Yeah, it's 85 by 100 is what that one is.

I guess the concern is it looks so matte. I don't know. You got the property. Yeah.

And there's nowhere else I can really put it because the horses are right there. And then I farm 12 acres of hay. So I don't want to lose all my hay.

Yeah. Yeah, I don't like the 212 pitch. I don't like the 212 pitch on large buildings. Gotcha. So 312, we can do that? A 312.

And it reduces it to 24?

I like the 412. You go 70. If you go 70 by 120, you're at, what, 2040? You'll be over 2014.

Well, let's see. I know. Yeah. So let's do the math again. 35. I'm sorry. 12.

So it's 24 feet at 70. You could double check your math.

What was that 22.9 you said? About 22.9. Okay, at 70 feet, okay. Yeah. Okay. I can prove it for that if you want me to. If you don't, I won't. Bye-bye.

Well, it's either I agree with you at 70 or I don't get it. So I'll do it at 70.

22.9. I don't know about that. That's all him with 312.

And we're doing 70 foot wide at 412?

Yeah, 412, yeah. Okay. So then that's going to be? We have to make sure that's correct.

14 foot plus the 140 inches, 11 foot six. That'll put us at 25 foot six. I'm sorry, I think I may have gotten some math wrong here, but about 25 foot six, where that will place it at 70 foot wide.

Yep. Better than 28 six. Okay, I will make a motion to approve. The horse stable, private horse stable, not for business. Is that correct? Correct. The size will be, in case DB-2026-33, I will approve the riding stable to be private. The size will be 75 by 120, and the height will be 25 feet 6 inches. And you have to sign a document to be used for personal use, not living use. So you're approved. Are you good with that? Okay. What's that? I'm just making a note to make sure I remember this. Okay. Well, we still have another case. We'll double-check your numbers. Come back to us. Okay. We close immediately. Is that correct? Sorry. Okay. Otherwise, you're locked in.

Yeah.

Yeah. All right.

Hey, I appreciate it. Thank you, guys. Okay.

Thanks for being flexible. Okay, next case, DV-2026-34, Epica and Brenda Krause, care of Mandy Chambers with Steindler Tines, location 404 West U.S. Highway 6, La Praza, Fort Worth Township. WCH, High Intensity Commercial District, acreage is 0.51. Request to allow new electronic signs to vary from following. First, exceed the maximum square feet. Second, to allow a height increase. Third, to allow more than one electronic message within a 24-hour period. And lastly, to allow the electrical sign to be closer to 100 feet from a residential district.

Thank you, Board, for having us here again today. My name is Tom Steinler with Steinler Science and Graphics out of Wanataw, Indiana, at 10740 US Highway 30.

My name is Chris Krause with Amson Volts Electric, 404 West US Highway 6.

Thank you. We are here today requesting a development standard variant for the county to allow a new electronic sign to vary from the following. Again, as stated before, to exceed the maximum square footage, to allow a height increase, and to allow more than one electronic message center within a 24-hour period, and to allow an electric sign to be closer than 100 feet of the residential district. And the sign that we are currently replacing, the existing sign already has a changeable copy, manual changeable copy letter board that is currently three foot by six foot. The sign that we are proposing to put up the electronic message center in replacement of that sign is, the measurements are two foot 11 by six foot three. So one inch shorter in height three inches wider. That's just the size that the manufacturers make these.

That's it? That is it. Yes, thank you. It's a public hearing. Everybody want to speak in favor of this? Come on, sir. State your name and address, please.

Joe Maggio. I own the property adjacent to Mr. Krause's business. Owned the property for about 23 years now. And we've had, I've had my issues over the years with some neighbors. Basically, I've got one neighbor at 410 next door to me now with a construction trailer within 60 feet of my house that's boarded up. I've got a big culvert that the state put in years back on 6th there with the big tube that goes underneath Route 6 to a retention area across the street. And it's all full of vegetation and just water sitting. And all that area is low back there and comes into that location, fighting that also. I'm against the sign, basically. I know it's a smaller sign, but those LED signs basically are 24-7. They can't be moneymakers. I understand that. The other thing is just be flashing across my property all day and all night. The other thing is I see them to be traffic issues, people coming up and reading signs instead of looking at the traffic light right down the road. And there's numbers of issues there. I mean, they can be good, and people like them for advertising, bottom line, but I've got a residential area right next door, and I see nothing but bad. Thank you.

You're welcome. Anybody else want to speak on this case, either for or against? Why don't you respond?

Yeah, I'd like to respond to that. And again... there are other electronic message centers within that same range everywhere from the car dealership across the street the car dealership next door the bank so on and so forth to answer his question about the sign being an audience at night time these do have automatic dimmers on them so there are so many nits during the evening hours and i'm sure our client as well would probably willing to either shut the sign down after certain hours, that it doesn't have to run all night long, 24 hours. The sign is a potential for business. It is also served for public service, so it would allow for time and temperature. It would allow for the county for amber alerts or the state for amber alerts or if county needed alerts. immediate emergency signage put up on they are willing to access their sign for for the needs of the state as well so to answer some of those questions the sign is slightly smaller it will actually look a little bit nicer and it allows the customer to be able to change the message without going outside in the rain or in the snow inclement weather and he can get his information out there a little bit better than what he would do with a changeable copy sign

Thank you. Anything new to add to your statement? All right, thank you. I'm going to close the public hearing. Yeah, I have concern because right next to a residential area, the resident's correct. It's a problem. It could be a problem. Now, I'm one of them that gets assigned even during the day. Okay. Also, we have new ordinance, so it'd be on the ground, monument signs now. Chrissy, you want to explain that?

Yeah, with our new ordinance, pole signs aren't allowed anymore. It's more of a monument sign, like the Taco Bell that just got put in. on the ground and come off eight feet. We don't like poles anymore. There are new, uh, four yard new ordinance and we're trying to clean up that route through South Haven and try to get everything cleaned up and so car dealers and rim route that's there. We've done a hard job trying to get Now, whether you cruise it or not, we still have some of these pull signs out there. But we're trying to get away from them.

Sure. And again, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Again, this is obviously an existing pole sign, which would create a hardship for the customer to have to take that whole thing down and to lower that down to the six foot or ten foot, whatever that might be. Again, that's why we thought this would be the best route, because we're simply removing a little three foot by six foot section.

changeable copy sign in in place of that so it was not aesthetically bigger it's actually smaller okay well it's legal not performing the way that it stands now if you were operating a new business we wouldn't even let you put in a full site it would have to be around so that's the presentation We have a plan for the future for the county and for our new ordinance. But this, again, is legal not in the form. You're asking for a new post. But once you start making modifications to it, then you have to look around the board. You see if they'll like it or not. Are you leasing the building, or did you buy it?

Leasing it.

So that'd be a big cost for you, though.

Okay, with that, I disagree with the hardship because he could keep what he has. Okay, so he could keep the sign. But my biggest issue right now is it's a residential adjacent property to this property here, and it would have negative impact on the resident. And with that, I will deny case DB-2026-34. Sorry, you denied. Okay, thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Sure. Thank you.

We'll make sure he understands that too. I forgot, what was his name? Do you understand what she said? Why don't you come up? They could appeal it and go full board, so if they do, be another hearing. And you will get no? Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Appreciate it. Good luck. Have a good day.

Anything else? Oh, yeah. Folks, you have anything you want to bring up? You have any questions?

Are you good?

It is correct. Okay. Did I make that motion? Okay. Did I finalize that or did I push it back? I did finalize it, so it is correct, 25.6. Okay. I'm sorry.

He says it's 25.8. Will you approve 25.6?

Okay.

Come back. If we're 28.6, the whole point is to bring the height down, so it's 25.6. Otherwise, we're right back where we started.

Okay. All right, let's see.

So the motion is 25.6.

And you deliver 25.6. 25 to 8. 25 to 8. That's what I thought you said. Right.

No, that's what they're requesting. They haven't brought it down. No, no.

They were making 28 cents. 25. Oh, 25 cents.

No, 28 they were requesting. So you are 25 cents. 25 cents.

Yeah. It's not correct. Okay. I'm glad I'm right. It's okay. It's all right. All right. I'm going to open the meeting back up to change that. Okay. So, no, no. We want to make sure. It's really important here. Okay. Okay. All right, so I will reopen case DB-2026-33, and I will change the motion, okay? Originally, I had 25.6 for the height. It's changed to 25 feet, eight inches. Yes, sir. Okay, all right. Okay, good. I approve, I approve, I approve. Okay, so it's approved for that height. Okay, are we good?

Yes. Okay. Talk to you about Mr. Friesinger.

I'm sorry, what?

I was hoping to talk to you about Mr. Prezinger and what he's done next after that.

He was the first case. The case that you denied originally, if he wants to appeal, he can go through the same motions. Right now, the case is finalized. Fantastic. But he can appeal.

That's finalized, yeah. I can't get involved in that.

No, I understand.

Okay. Okay. Adjourned meeting. Adjourned.

Thank you.