The only case before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night was for a variance from development standards to allow one freestanding sign in a Residential-2 district. It was unanimously approved. The applicant was Globe Star, 1422 E. Center St. Assistant Planner Justin Taylor told the board the property has been used for different commercial and professional office purposes over the last 12 years. It was granted a use variance in December 2014. As part of the original variance, it was granted one freestanding sign consisting of a nonlit maximum 16-square-foot sign. The sign Globe Star requested Monday was a 12-square-feet non-lit sign with a height of 4 feet. Taylor said the property is located within the overlay district along Center Street. As part of that overlay district, professional uses are recommended along the Center Street corridor, and the property was formally used in this capacity under those regulations for the last 12 years. He said the signs previously on the property were removed. “The applicant’s request is consistent with the previously allowed variances from development standards for commercial signs located within the Center Street overlay district. It is my recommendation that the board could reasonably provide positive findings of fact in order to grant approval of this request for variance from development standards,” Taylor concluded. Board President Tom Allen asked who the prior occupants of the property were. Board member Tammy Dalton said there was a hair salon and a floral shop there for a number of years. The only person from the audience speaking in favor of the petition was Scott Gray, owner of Graycraft Signs Plus of Warsaw, who will be making the sign. There was no opposition to the petition, and it was approved. In other business: • Mayor Joe Thallemer gave BZA member Jeff Johnson the oath of office. • Allen was re-elected as board president, with Rick Keeven as vice president. • The 2017 meeting schedule was reviewed. Meeting dates will be Feb. 27, March 27, April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 27 and Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
