Delaware Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – July 8, 2026

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The single agenda item was a variance request by Bucyrus Storage Complex LLC for a buffer yard reduction on South Sandusky Street. The board unanimously approved the variance after hearing from the applicant, staff, and a member of the public.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Motion Summary (June 10, 2026 meeting): Approved by voice vote (ayes all). One board member who had been absent and also had a personal case in that meeting noted uncertainty about participation, but the chair ruled that approval of the minutes themselves was not an endorsement of content.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Staff reported that two residents had called with questions about the variance but expressed no opposition.
• Mike Mass (2591 Paint on the Road) spoke after the public hearing was reopened. He owns adjacent property and described site history: the lot was the former site of the Delaware City Mausoleum; he raised concerns about buried footings, unstable soil, steep grades, and potential difficulty with emergency access, stormwater, and ADA compliance. He said he was not opposing the project but wanted full disclosure of site conditions.
• Jim Manus (applicant) responded that he had investigated the site, dug to confirm the absence of the old slab and footings, and designed the building to use existing grade. He noted that the adjacent property owner (the speaker’s girlfriend) declined to grant access for construction, so all work would be done from the street.

Discussion Items

• V 26-8 – Variance to side yard setback (buffer yard) requirements
  • Applicant presentation (Jim Manus, Bucyrus Storage Complex LLC): The lot is extremely narrow and steep. The proposed building is a small office/storage structure. The variance is to reduce the required 15‑foot buffer (between commercial and residential zoning) to 10 feet. The site is constrained and the reduction is the minimum needed to accommodate the building and emergency access.
  • Staff presentation (David): The site is 0.5 acres, zoned CC, with undeveloped residential parcels to the south and east. Because of the steep slope and narrowness, the five‑foot reduction is reasonable. Staff recommended approval, noting it would not prevent government services, light, air, or be detrimental to the neighborhood.
  • Board discussion: Questions clarified that the buffer is between the commercial lot and residential senior apartments to the southeast. The board noted the slope naturally buffers the view. A member suggested enhanced landscaping or a fence to maintain visual separation, but the chair noted the board cannot mandate such upgrades; the applicant stated the landscaping plan would be revised and a dumpster enclosure would add a fence. No other concerns were raised.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to approve V 26-8 (finding all decision factors in City Code Chapter 1128 satisfied) was made and seconded.
• Vote: 6–0 in favor (Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. Bonus, Mr. Eggwall, Mr. El Masarani, Vice Chair Latta, Chair Dariano); none opposed. One member (Mr. Haynes) was excused.
• Staff comment: One application is on file for the August 12, 2026 meeting.
• Member comments: Welcome to the new board member; thanks to outgoing member Beth Fisher for her service.
• Adjournment: 7:10 PM.