Variance granted to expand home in shoreland district

The Hutchinson City Council unanimously granted Stacy and Jeremy Crosby a variance last week that allows them to build an 18-foot by 18-foot addition to the back of their home at 1880 West Shore Drive S.W.

The variance allows them to exceed the 25-percent lot coverage restriction in a shoreland district. The home is just within 1,000 feet of Otter Lake. They will be required to construct a rain garden to mitigate some rainwater runoff.

A majority of city staff had recommended that the variance be denied, City Administrator Gary Plotz said. Plotz has been filling in the Planning and Zoning Department since the resignation of Director Rebecca Bowers in July. However, the Hutchinson Planning Commission voted, 4-2, to recommend that the council grant the Crosbys’ request.

Read more of this story in the Leader’s Sept. 29 print edition.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)