Published: October 28, 2009 08:59 am      

Triangle Rubber variance request approved

The approval of a variance request at Tuesday’s Goshen Board of Zoning Appeals meeting has cleared the way for 20 new jobs.

Officials at Triangle Rubber, regarding their thermal plastic division, requested a developmental variance to allow a building expansion to come within 25 feet of their property line, where ordinance requires 100 feet. In 2004, a similar variance was allowed for a prior expansion to the building, allowing it to come within the same distance.

Much of the board’s discussion centered on the planning staff recommendation, which suggested allowing a setback of 40 feet. Triangle Rubber Vice President Ed Gerwels noted that a business next door to the facility encroaches at least within 25 feet of the property line. He also said he had talked with the appropriate individuals at Greencroft Retirement Communities, which borders the property on the affected side, and they have no problems with the request.

After some discussion during which board members voiced concerns about giving the building an odd shape due to the portion already extending to the requested position, the request was unanimously approved.

The new expansion will add 24,400 square feet to the facility, which will be used to expand operations. This will lead to 20 additional positions, according to company officials. The approval also covers another 24,800-square-foot expansion, to be located alongside the first, should it be constructed within two years.

According to Gerwels, construction on the first expansion will begin this winter.

Landscaping request

Southside Self Storage representatives requested a developmental variance to allow partial landscaping where full landscaping is required due to the zoning of the property, intended to keep industrial properties visually shielded from abutting residential zones.

An almost identical request from the company for the same property, at 811 E. Kercher Road, was approved in August 2008. The design of the lot and buildings changed in between the two requests. The new layout of the facility includes long buildings along the sides of the property, adding to the visual block between nearby residents and possible outdoor storage of RVs, boats and the like. Parking was also adjusted and the office moved.

Concerns from residents were aired at both the 2008 and the 2009 meetings. In 2008, William Morelock, a Kercher Road resident, worried largely about the outdoor storage of RVs. At Tuesday’s meeting, a letter was included from John Bruhn. Bruhn, also a Kercher Road resident, asked for elevated landscaping, no pole-mounted flood lights, sharing a curb cut with a property next door and no outdoor storage of any kind. Bruhn also questioned why another storage facility was necessary.

The request was approved with several minor conditions, including limiting glare from bright or tall lights.