A piece of the library’s property curves in which caused a portion of the proposed expansion to encroach on the “no-build” zone by four-feet-three-inches according to zoning officials.
“The library can argue with their heart, I have to argue with my head,” said Roger Butler, a member of the board of zoning appeals.
Butler contended the library could not meet any of the specified criteria for an appeal laid out by Waynesville’s zoning code and that if village council granted a variance, they would open a door for anyone else looking to encroach on the 40-foot rule.
Library director Linda Swartzel said if the library was able to act quickly and build the plans as originally drawn up, they could save several thousand dollars by using students from the Warren County Career Center to construct the building.
Swartzel said the library had to meet a number of criteria for the project, including complying with ADA standards and providing lengthy sight lines to ensure children’s safety.
Swartzel said she felt the library was caught in a struggle between the BZA and the council because the BZA has been requesting a review of the zoning codes (Butler made such a request earlier in the presentation). Councilwoman Kimberly Kaan took offense to this suggestion and said the BZA and council had a good working relationship.
Councilman Richard Elliott said council was helping the library by rejecting its request because it would cause them to plan their expansion along the zoning lines.
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