Evansville Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - June 18, 2026

The Board of Zoning Appeals met on June 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM in Room 301 of the Civic Center. The meeting began with a roll call (five members present: Ms. Cobble, Ms. Kasha, Mr. Rudolph, Mr. Shetler, Mr. Zayner, Ms. Payne) and approval of the May meeting minutes. A recorded statement of procedures was played. Two petitions were continued to the July 16 meeting. The board then heard and acted on eight docketed cases, including one special use request and seven variance requests.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the memorandum of the May meeting (unanimous).

Discussion Items

• Continuances to July 16, 2026:
  • Variance 2026-017 (11216 Walnut Road, petitioner Jacob Hunt)
  • Variance 2026-030 (3300 Edgewood Drive, petitioner Seth Durner)
• SPU-2026-003 (4100 Covert Avenue) – Landmark Recovery/Universal Health Realty: Petitioner did not appear for a second continuance; staff had no response to contact attempts. Board voted 5-0 to continue the petition without a date, allowing the petitioner to pay a fee to re-agenda without a one-year moratorium.
• SPU-2026-004 (16035 North Volkman Road) – Robert Redden III: Petitioner absent. A letter from County Commissioner Justin Elpers opposing the request (citing safety concerns, parcel size, proximity to homes, potential rifle use) and an email from County Engineer John Stoll about erosion/sediment issues were read into the record. Two remonstrators, Robert Murphy and John Sarrad, spoke against the proposal, citing unsightly conditions, safety, and the petitioner’s financial inability to develop. Board voted 5-0 to deny the special use. Staff indicated denial would trigger enforcement of existing zoning violations regarding unpermitted structures and RV living.
• VAR-2026-028 (1717 North Green River Road) – Greer Investments LLC: Request to increase on-premise signs from three to six to accommodate new KIBA branding. Petitioner Scott Elpers explained the signs are mostly existing with new faces. No remonstrators. Approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-031 (7931 North St. Joseph Road) – Jack Crowell: Request to reduce front yard setback for an accessory structure from 200 ft to 118 ft due to topography and utilities. No remonstrators. Approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-032 (3059 Grove Street) – Eric Reedford: Request to allow accessory structures larger than the main house (total 2,192 sq ft vs. 1,040 sq ft house) and two driveways on combined lots. Petitioner Ryan Sermersheim described plans for a pole barn on a lot purchased and combined. No remonstrators. Approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-033 (5807 Big Cynthia Road) – Scott McCord: Request to allow taller accessory structure (existing pole barn) and wider driveway (46 ft vs. 24 ft max). Petitioner Matt Lehman explained contractor errors and miscommunication about setbacks. A neighbor, Jim Carnes, spoke in support. Remonstrator was not present; staff noted anonymous complaints about driveway and building proximity. County engineer John Stoll had no objections to the driveway variance (email read). Board discussed construction deviations but only heard the two variance issues. Approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-034 (717/721-723 West Franklin Street) – Shireen Real Estate LLC: Request to reduce parking from 21 to 15 spaces and eliminate required landscaping island for conversion of a vacant retail building to 15 apartments. Petitioner Matt Lehman described the project targeting Barry employees. Remonstrator Brian Hutchinson (owner of adjacent commercial property) expressed concern about parking overflow onto his lots. Board discussed requiring numbered, permit-only parking spaces to prevent overflow. Approved 5-0 with condition that each unit has a designated, numbered parking space.
• VAR-2026-035 (7920 Newburgh Road) – Christopher Kiefer: Request to allow accessory structures larger than main house (3,006 sq ft vs. 856 sq ft house) for a 2,600 sq ft pole barn. Petitioner confirmed personal use and neighbor approval. No remonstrators. Approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-036 (5230 North First Avenue) – CNS Incorporated: Request to increase on-premise signs from three to five for a gas station updating Marathon and Circle S branding. Petitioner Scott Elpers explained branding standards necessitate additional signs. No remonstrators. Board discussed industry trends but approved 5-0.
• VAR-2026-037 (4645 Keebler Road) – Jeffrey West: Request to allow accessory structures larger than main house (1,720 sq ft vs. 1,218 sq ft house) for a new pole barn and carport after demolishing existing garage. No remonstrators. Approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• May meeting minutes approved unanimously.
• Two variances continued to July 16, 2026.
• SPU-2026-003 continued without date (petitioner to re-agenda).
• SPU-2026-004 denied (5-0); enforcement of existing violations to follow.
• Seven variance petitions approved (all 5-0) with one condition (VAR-2026-034: numbered permit parking).
• Meeting adjourned after all agenda items.