Plymouth, Indiana

News from the outskirts of a small midwestern town:

[Following up on a neighbor’s complaint,] Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal reviewed the property and confirmed the shed, which sits just two feet from the property line, was in violation of city codes. However, while inspecting the Emmons’ property, Manuwal drove through the rest of the subdivision and observed numerous similar infractions.

During a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) meeting on Monday, Plymouth Plan Director Ty Adley reported the scope of the issue. Of the 31 sheds located within the South Pointe Subdivision, only 13 currently meet setback requirements or have previously obtained a variance. The remaining 18 sheds are situated too close to the side yard, rear yard, or both.

The subdivision in question has just 41 houses. Almost half are out of compliance. The obvious solution would have been for Building Commissioner Manuwal to keep his observations to himself. A more sophisticated solution would be for the city to reduce its onerous 20-foot rear setback for accessory structures, which obviously don’t correspond to the normal practice.

The city chose neither of those. Instead:

Homeowners must now either physically relocate their sheds to comply with the 10-foot side and 20-foot rear setback requirements, or they must officially apply for a “variance of development standard.”

To obtain a variance, residents will need to present their case to the board and explain specifically why their shed cannot be relocated to meet the standard setbacks. Adley emphasized that there is no blanket solution, and the board will consider each variance application individually on its own merits.

There is a blanket solution – relax the zoning – but the city officials are too committed to their codes to be responsive to their citizens.