MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved a request during its Aug. 2 meeting for a conditional use permit for residential to allow parcels at 301-303 N. Norton Street to be redeveloped to allow affordable senior housing.
“Our intent is to do two four-unit residential structures for affordable senior housing on these lots with the Area Agency on Aging,” Sam Filkins of the Knox County Land Revitalization Corp. said. “We'll be building them and operating them.”
He said it’s a great fit for the lot as it serves as a bridge between the residential neighborhood to the north and the industrial property of Heartland Commerce Park to the south.
“We’re actually getting rid of some pretty ugly property, and it’s definitely an improvement to the neighborhood,” Mike Hillier, who serves as a Mount Vernon city councilman, told the BZA.
Private dog park rejected on Whiteheirs
The BZA rejected a request by Julius Schwarcz for a variance to install a fence and a shed at 0 Whiteheirs Street to create a private dog park.
Schwarcz said he and his wife wanted to create a private dog park for their dogs. But if it worked out, they might come back to the city for zoning to turn it into a paid dog park.
Tracy Ryan, who lives on Whiteheirs Street, called the city with complaints, saying the fence being proposed would be an eyesore. She was concerned about it becoming a private, paid dog park in a residential neighborhood.
Law Director Rob Broeren said the home businesses allowed in R-1 residential zoning do not include a dog park.
“That’s not our primary intention,” Schwarcz said. “Our primary intention is for our own fur babies to be able to have a place where they can run around. At some point in the future, we may pursue that avenue.”
The zoning variance request was denied on a 3-2 vote by the BZA.
Mulberry resident can keep tall fence
A Mulberry Street homeowner’s request to keep a section of privacy fence higher than code requirements was approved.
Linda Wilson of 1107 N. Mulberry St. said she asked her contractor, Kenyon Building Co., if he had filed for a building permit with the city after a property maintenance officer mailed a violation notice to her after observing the fence construction.
“The contractor then applied for a zoning permit stating the fence height was 6 feet,” Mount Vernon Development Services Manager Lacie Blankenhorn said, quoting the staff report. “The application was denied as the fence height was known to be higher than 6 feet.”
“He also filed a materially false document that we’re currently referring for prosecution,” Broeren said.
The law director said the case before the BZA had nothing to do with the fence height, but everything to do with documents from the contractor.
Wilson told the BZA her intent with the fence was to block an eyesore of a neighboring property and create her own backyard sanctuary.
Miller Avenue homeowner’s garage approved
The BZA also approved a request by Ryan Holmes for his property at 208 Miller Ave. to construct a 30-foot-by-40-foot outbuilding to serve as a garage so he can work on his vehicles.
Other properties in the neighborhood also have large outbuildings, according to the staff report read by Blankenhorn.
The request was approved on the condition that a plastic temporary structure Holmes had erected in his yard is removed.
