By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

A variance granted by Dowagiac Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Tuesday evening clears the way for Cass County Habitat for Humanity to build a house at 503 N. Front St.

At its first meeting since Sept. 11, 2007, the ZBA promoted Rich Frantz from vice chairman to chairman.

James Sayer and Edward Booth also attended. Lametra Wray was absent. A fifth position remains vacant.

City Clerk James Snow administered oaths of office and convened the meeting for a public hearing requested by Charles Maher on behalf of Habitat for a variance to the minimum side yard setback distance for the vacant property a lot south of Conner-Mayo AME Church at 505.

The only person to speak at the hearing was Patricia Proctor-McCann, who lives to the south of the lot at 501.

City Building Official James Bradford said, “Habitat obtained property” from Cass County Land Bank, which was represented at the hearing by County Treasurer Linda Irwin.

“A standard lot is 66 feet in width by 132 feet in depth,” Bradford said. “This lot is seven feet smaller, 59 feet. They need a five-foot variance for the south side for the 16-foot-wide attached garage and house being proposed. (The variance) would allow the south yard setback of nine feet and the north yard setback of six feet. It is our recommendation that you grant the variance. The pitch is from north to south and the attached garage is on the south side. We wouldn’t be having this meeting tonight had this lot been a standard-size lot of 66.”

There had been a two-story house with no garage on the site that the Land Bank acquired and tore down because of the prohibitive cost of repairs.