Anna Elliott Selected as BZA Chair

Board of Zoning Appeals

The Martinsville Board of Zoning Appeals heard two variance requests during its Tuesday meeting.

Michael Ksenak, an attorney, appeared on behalf of M&M Real Properties, LLC, which sought a variance to run a semi-tractor and trailer sales dealership on a property that is zoned I1-Light Industrial (LI). The three-acre parcel is located at 420 S Ind. 39, just north of the railroad tracks.

The project requires a variance because it technically falls under commercial use, city attorney Dale Coffey said.

A group of neighbors expressed concerns about the dealership’s impact on traffic and property values.

“This isn’t a used car lot where people are coming in,” he said. “It’s a very specialized type of product.”

And city attorney Dale Coffey said he believed the area is primed for development in the next several years, especially once the city completes construction of a new levee, expected in 2024.

“This area most likely will see a different focus,” Coffey said. “I can’t sit here and speak to what the zoning will be, but I could definitely see more development happening in this area. Bringing this property back to life probably increases values rather than decreases values.”

The board unanimously approved the request.

In other business, the board denied a variance request from Storage Express Holdings LLC, which was looking to add 18 movable storage buildings to its site on Industrial Drive in southeast Martinsville.

The decision came after the board heard concerns from the Martinsville Fire Department, which has battled two separate storage fires in the past year.

The developer’s plans would have placed storage units one foot away from an adjoining property line, putting a neighboring garage at risk should a fire break out, Martinsville Fire Marshall Charlie Fraker said. 

The board also elected its officers for the 2022 year. Anna Elliot was voted chair, Katie Barnes was voted vice chair and Marilyn Siderewicz was voted secretary.

The next meeting of the Martinsville Board of Zoning Appeals is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at Martinsville City Hall, 59 S. Jefferson St.