Board of Zoning Appeals: June 18, 2024

The City of Lawrence Indiana Board of Zoning Appeals convened on June 18, 2024, to consider a variance request for a property at 9559 Pendleton Pike. The petitioner, a landscaping and grounds maintenance company that is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and located in a HUBZone, sought approval to use crushed compacted gravel as a permanent surface over part of the site instead of the typically required hard, dust-free surface. The gravel surface was proposed to maintain the integrity of an existing retention pond designed to absorb water runoff, as gravel allows water infiltration unlike asphalt or concrete. The petitioner emphasized the site's unique constraints, including lack of direct frontage and the need for a gravel surface for operational and marketing reasons. City staff and board members discussed zoning classifications, environmental impacts, and alternative permeable paving options. The petitioner committed to working with city departments during permitting to ensure stormwater management and site development standards are met. After deliberation, the board unanimously approved the variance, allowing the gravel surface as requested. This decision supports economic development by enabling a long-vacant site to be utilized by a local small business while considering environmental and community concerns.