SIDNEY — A request to expand Graceland Cemetery was tabled during Monday’s city of Sidney Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
Duane Gaier, Sidney parks and recreation director, had requested the expansion of the existing conditional use for Graceland Cemetery on behalf of the city of Sidney, which owns the cemetery.
The expansion, said Barbara Dulworth, community services director, would provide an additional 3,222 grace locations and would encompass roughly 4 acres of the 61.5 acre cemetery property. Included in the expansion is development of lanes and grading. Approximately 40 trees are planned, but the locations are not identified as many of the trees are memory trees which will be donated by loved ones.
After Dulworth recommended the expansion be approved, discussion was opened up to those in attendance.
James Bray, 1357 S. Main Ave., asked whether the 70-foot right-of-way by the railroad will continue to be maintained. Bray, whose parents bought the house he currently lives in in 1964, told the ZBA the property lines on the map they were using for the requested expansion at the cemetery weren’t correct.
Bray also said they are several underground springs flowing under the cemetery, which may cause problems in the area to be developed.
The issue was tabled until Gaier and Dulworth could explore the property lines and right-of-way responsibilities.
Three out of four variances requested by Richard L. Bowen & Associates on behalf of Speedway were approved by the board. Speedway is in the planning stages for the redevelopment of the current station located at 1529 Michigan St. Work on the project would begin in 2017.
The first request dealing with increasing sign height was denied by the board. Speedway had requested a new detached sign with a height of 29.5 feet where 25 feet is the maximum and a sign the size of 165 square feet where 100 square feet is the maximum.
Jonathan Ziegen, of Richard L. Bowen & Associates, Cleveland, said one sign would be next to the Reliable Castings sign and would be tall enough not to obscure Reliable Castings’s sign.
He also requested the size of the sign be amended to 125 square feet from the 165 square feet. This sign would be placed near the highway so drivers could see that there is a Speedway at the exit and the cost of the gas.
The three other variances, which were all approved, deals with 10-feet of grass area separation between the parking facility and right-of-way and required five trees; reduces the 10-foot grass area separation between the parking facility and adjoining property; and reduces the rear yard setback.
A conditional use permit for a home business requested by Jessy Strunk, 330 Franklin Ave., was approved. The business will be a garment decorating and vinyl application business. Conditions of the permit include no one other than members of the household will be employed at the residence, no outdoor storage or display is allowed, any public advertisement cannot include the address, a fire safety inspection must be completed, business may be conducted between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and the business must be conducted in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
The board also approved a conditional use permit for off street parking facility for Amos Public Library to use. The parking lot will be located at 212-216 N. Main Ave. and is part of the library’s expansion project. Entrance to the parking lot will be via an alley between Miami Avenue and Main Street. There will be 39 parking spaces when the lot is complete.
