Village Council Votes Down Zoning Ordinance Amendment

In a 6-1 vote the Dexter Village Council rejected a recommendation by the Dexter Planning Commission on Monday to consider changing a zoning ordinance that addresses building height requirements for existing buildings. 

Currently, the zoning ordinance deems any existing building that resides in the central business district to be non-conforming if it does not meet a two-story height requirement.  As a non-conforming building, it cannot be altered or enlarged in any way to increase its non-conformity. 

The planning commission argued in its recommendation that many of the buildings in the business district are older and it is not structurally feasible to add stories to the existing building.  Currently, all existing buildings must apply for a variance to improve or extend their structure if they cannot structurally meet the two-story requirement.

Trustee Paul Cousins agreed with the arguments made by the planning commission, but didn’t feel it warranted an amendment to the ordinance.

“I don’t like sending a message of non-support to the planning commission, but in this case I think I will have to vote against the amendment,” Cousins said.

The issue was considered after the e contacted the village about the possibility of expanding the building for the purpose of storage and set building. Increasing the height of the building would not be feasible given the purpose and age of the building. 

The Encore Theatre can still potentially expand the size of the building, but not the height by receiving a variance from the village. A similiar variance was granted in 2007 for the expansion of the Wallace building at 3219 Broad St. 

“This decision could have gone either way,” trustee Ray Tell said.  “Right now it is better to take it case by case.  I can handle a variance every three to four years.”