New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - July 7, 2026
New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - July 7, 2026
The New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals met on July 7, 2026, at 10:30 AM ET. Five members were present. The meeting was streamed and archived. The board considered two dockets and approved prior meeting minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sally Eads and Ron Eads, neighbors of 2700 Kwood Drive, spoke in opposition to Docket B 1826. They expressed concerns that the gravel driveway lowered property values, created safety issues for children, and had been built without proper permits. They questioned why the variance should be granted after the fact.
Discussion Items
- Docket B 1726 (Applicant Morius): The applicant failed to post required signs in time. On request, the board unanimously voted to postpone the docket to the August 2026 meeting. Signs must be posted by July 20.
- Docket B 1826 (Al Cardoso): Request for variances to permit a second driveway and an accessory structure (shed) not meeting development standards. Applicant representative John Kraft argued that the improvements increased property value and the violations were inadvertent. Staff recommended denial, noting the driveway lacked a curb cut permit and the shed appeared to encroach on neighboring property. Neighbors testified against the request. After discussion, the board voted to table the docket with conditions: the applicant must obtain Board of Public Works and Safety approval for a curb cut and provide an updated survey showing all improvements.
- Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Docket B 1726 was postponed unanimously to August 2026.
- Docket B 1826 was tabled (unanimous) with stipulations: applicant to seek Board of Public Works curb cut approval and obtain a new survey; the docket remains active pending compliance.
- Minutes from last month approved.
- An update was provided regarding the Westgate subdivision issue, now resolved, clarifying that the Board of Zoning Appeals cannot sit in judgment of Planning Commission plat approvals.
Meeting Transcript
Can we begin with a call of the roll, please? Max Costman. Present. Jason Applegate. Here. Eric Merton. Here. Bob Norwood? Here. Daniel Riggs. Here. Mr. Chairman, we have five members present. It will require three members to carry any motion. Tonight's meeting is being streamed and will be archived in the next couple of days at New Albany City Hall.com. All right. Before we begin the call of the dock, I just want to go over briefly how these meetings generally operate. When a docket is called, we will invite the applicant to come forward and tell us about their proposal and what they're asking for. At that point, the board may have some questions. We will then entertain public comment if anyone is here to speak either in favor of or in opposition to a particular docket. There could be some further discussion. Then we'll hear the staff report from the professionals on the planning and zoning staff. And then the chairman will entertain a motion for a vote on either docket. So with that, uh we're going to begin with Docket B 1726. Would the applicant or the representative confirmation? Mr. Bosman, I think and Mr. Wood will confirm this. Mr. More I guess having been out of town did not post signs as a result of that, even though he went to the BZA last month coming forward, but signs were not timely posted. Okay. So as a result of that, uh we understand Mr. Morius understands that it will be on the agenda for next month and he will be picking up signs this time. Okay. And just for the record, those need to be posted on July the 20th, which would give a 15-day notice. If the board can either unanimously accept uh postponement or make a motion to do so for the record, I would appreciate that. I'll make a motion that we postpone docket uh B 1726 per the applicant's request. Second. There having been a motion and a second, all those in favor of postponing docket B 1726 to the August meeting. All uh in favor, right hand and aye. Aye. All those opposed, the motion. The motion carries, and docket B 1726 will be continued until the August meeting. All right. Uh second item on the agenda, Docket B 1826. Al Cardoso requests a variance to permit a second driveway and accessory structure that will not meet developmental standards in the MDR mixed density residential district at 2700 Kwood Drive. Will the applicant or their representative, who I presume is you, come forward. Yes, Mr. President. Uh John Kraft with Law Firm of Young Lynn Anderson Kraft, 126 West Spring Street, bearing on behalf of Mr.
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