Application Information for
□ Developmental Variance □ Special Use for a Mobile Home □ Special Use □ Use Variance
When you have to apply by
3:00 p.m. on Monday,
, for the
Hearing Officer hearing on Wednesday,
, or the
Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on Thursday,
.
What you should do first
If there will be a new septic system on the property, find out from the Health Department if there’s
enough space for it.
If there will be a new driveway that connects to a county road or a change to an existing driveway that
connects to a county road, find out from the Highway Department if you need a driveway permit.
What you need when you come back (an incomplete application will be refused)
□
1)
Application fee (nonrefundable), $
.
□
2)
Application page, signed.
□
3)
Questionnaire(s).
□
4)
Site plan.
□
5)
Recorded deeds for all parcels. (You can get these from the Recorder’s Office, 117 N. 2nd Street,
Goshen, Indiana 46526.)
□
6)
An authorizing letter from the current property owner—only if the application signer is a buyer,
land contract purchaser, or lessee.
□
7)
The agreement—only if there’s a buyer, land contract purchaser, or lessee.
□
8)
The recorded access easement—only if your application includes a variance for a residence on
property with no road frontage and there’s an existing recorded easement.
□
9)
An hour of time.
What happens after you apply
We come take pictures of the property.
We make a report and recommendation to the Hearing Officer or Board of Zoning Appeals.
We set your hearing time.
We send notices that show the hearing date and time to you, anyone else on the application page, and
owners of nearby property. The notice comes a week before the hearing, and the report and recom-
mendation comes with it.
What happens during the hearing
At your time, the staff says the report and recommendation.
You say in your own words what you want to do.
The Hearing Officer or Board of Zoning Appeals might ask questions.
Anyone for or against speaks.
If there’s anyone against, you get to respond.
If it’s the Board of Zoning Appeals, the board closes the public hearing and discusses your application.
The Hearing Officer or Board of Zoning Appeals makes a decision. It can be approval, approval with
conditions, denial, or postponement to another date.
What happens after the hearing
If it’s a Hearing Officer approval (Wednesday),
We send a result letter to you and anyone else on the application page for your records.
Allow the five-business-day appeal period to pass.
Meet conditions of approval (if any).
Then you can start a building permit.
If it’s a Board of Zoning Appeals approval (Thursday),
We send a result letter to you and anyone else on the application page for your records.
We send a commitment to the owner (or the buyer). The commitment comes about three weeks
after the hearing, and instructions come with it.
Return the notarized, recorded commitment to us.
Meet other conditions of approval (if any).
Then you can start a building permit (if you’re building something).
4230 Elkhart Road
Goshen, Indiana 46526
Elkhart County
Planning and Development
(574) 971-4678
DPS@ElkhartCounty.com
Application
Site address:
Parcel number(s):
Current property owner
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Other party □ Agent □ Buyer □ Land contract purchaser □ Lessee
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
By signing below, I understand that if my application is approved, there may be conditions that will have to
be met before approval is final and building permits can be started. I also understand that the conditions
may include a commitment that the property owner is responsible for completing and returning.
Signature of current property owner or authorized agent:
Staff Use Only
Description:
Parcel creation date:
Subdivision required?
□ Y □ N
If yes,
□ AS □ Minor □ Major
Residential accessory breakdown, if applicable:
Location:
N S E W corner side end of
,
ft. N S E W of
,
in
Township
Frontage:
Depth:
Area:
acres
Subdivision and lot number, if applicable:
Present use:
Developmental Variance — Questionnaire
Name:
1)
Tell us what you want to do.
2)
Tell us why you can’t change what you’re doing so you don’t need a variance.
3)
Tell us why the variance won’t hurt your neighbors or the community.
4)
Does the property need well and septic?
Well: □ Y □ N
Septic: □ Y □ N
Does the property need a new septic system?
□ Y □ N
If a new septic system is needed, did the Health Department say there’s enough space for it?
□ Y □ N
5)
Does the application include variances to allow for buildings or additions?
□ Y □ N
If yes, fill out below.
Building or addition 1
Size and height to the peak:
Tell us what you’ll use it for.
Building or addition 2
Size and height to the peak:
Tell us what you’ll use it for.
Building or addition 3
Size and height to the peak:
Tell us what you’ll use it for.
6)
Does the application include a variance for a residence on property with no road frontage?
□ Y □ N
If yes, fill out below.
Is the easement existing?
□ Y □ N
If the easement is existing, is it recorded?
□ Y □ N
Tell us who owns (will own) the land under the easement.
Tell us how many parcels will use the easement.
7)
Does the application include variances for signs?
□ Y □ N
If yes, fill out below.
Sign 1
Dimensions (length and width):
Existing?
□ Y □ N
Double faced?
□ Y □ N
Electronic message board?
□ Y □ N
If no, lighted?
□ Y □ N
Freestanding?
□ Y □ N
Wall mounted?
□ Y □ N
Sign 2
Dimensions (length and width):
Existing?
□ Y □ N
Double faced?
□ Y □ N
Electronic message board?
□ Y □ N
If no, lighted?
□ Y □ N
Freestanding?
□ Y □ N
Wall mounted?
□ Y □ N
Sign 3
Dimensions (length and width):
Existing?
□ Y □ N
Double faced?
□ Y □ N
Electronic message board?
□ Y □ N
If no, lighted?
□ Y □ N
Freestanding?
□ Y □ N
Wall mounted?
□ Y □ N
8)
Does the application include a variance for parking spaces?
□ Y □ N
If yes, tell us how many total there will be.
9)
Tell us anything else you want us to know.
Site Plan Information
No aerial photos.
No paper larger than 8½ × 14.
Use labels as shown in the sample.
If you draw to scale, show it.
Show the following:
□
1)
North arrow.
□
2)
Property lines and lengths.
□
3)
Adjacent right-of-ways.
□
4)
Existing and proposed buildings and additions, their sizes, and their setbacks from property lines
and centerlines of adjacent right-of-ways.
Note: If you give building and addition details in the building-and-addition part of the question-
naire (if applicable), number the buildings and additions on the site plan to match.
□
5)
Existing and proposed driveways.
□
6)
Existing and proposed signs, their sizes, and their setbacks from property lines and centerlines of
adjacent right-of-ways.
Note: If you give sign details in the sign part of the questionnaire (if applicable), number the
signs on the site plan to match.
□
7)
Existing and proposed parking areas and their setbacks from property lines and centerlines of adja-
cent right-of-ways.
□
8)
Existing and proposed outside storage areas and their sizes.
□
9)
Existing and proposed buffering with sizes (fences, trees, shrubs, mounds).
□
10)
Existing and proposed access easements with sizes.
□
11)
Buildings, signs, or buffering that will be removed.
Sample site plan
