SIDNEY — The Sidney Planning Commission approved a lot split and replat to transfer ownership to adjacent property owners during its Monday meeting. The recommendation will be sent to Sidney City Council for its approval.

The commission approved the request of Darrell and Diane Bender for a lot to be split into three new lots and then be replat on Johnston Street, east of Broadway Avenue located in the single family residence district. The new lots are created by splitting one existing lot into three parts and then adding those parts to three adjacent lots.

Barbara Dulworth, community development director, said the dwelling at 808 Broadway Ave. experienced a fire in January 2016 and was demolished in March 2016. Rather than construct a new dwelling, Dulworth said the owners wish to divide the property and convey to the properties at 806 Broadway Ave., 504 Johnston St., and 506 Johnston St. These existing properties have extremely small lots currently between 1,600 to 3,094 square feet.

The transfer is a two part action, Dulworth said, the first being the lot split, so ownership of the three lots can be transferred to the adjacent property. The second part is to replat as three new lots.

The lot split/replat, results in a lot with 6,185.5 square feet; another with 3,789.7 square feet; and a third lot with 3,223.4 square feet. The new lots do not meet minimum lot size requirements of the zoning code, so a variance is required, and was also approved Monday by the Zoning Board of Appeals, in order to allow for the lot split/replat to proceed.

Commission members asked questions about the ability to build on the new lots. Dulworth said depending on whether a potential new garage would be be attached to the house and its size would determine if a garage could be built. The center lot, she noted, would not have access by car to the back of the home to add a garage, so a storage shed could be a possibility for that lot.

Commission member David Gross was absent and was excused by the board.