By 1808Delaware
The Orange Township Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 20 beginning at 6:00 PM at Orange Township Hall, 1680 East Orange Road, Lewis Center. Public comment will be taken.
What’s on the agenda
The board will consider five requests. Here’s what each applicant is seeking and why it matters.
Place of worship on East Orange Road
• Case: Variance/Conditional Use #VA-CU-25-15, Palachanra Chickadadi Ganesh
• Request: A conditional use to allow a place of worship under Section 7.04(c) and an area variance to locate it on less than five acres, which Section 7.04 typically requires.
• Site: 350 E. Orange Rd., Lewis Center (parcel 318-321-01-003-000)
• Why it’s notable: The use is permitted conditionally, but the lot size triggers a separate variance. The board will weigh impacts like traffic, parking, and neighborhood fit.
Deck into rear setback in Cross Creek
• Case: Variance #VA-25-23, Revive My Home Remodeling c/o Michael Pirwitz
• Request: An area variance in the Cross Creek rezoning (Case #3752) to let a deck extend into the 30-foot rear yard setback in a Single Family Planned Residential district.
• Site: 2495 Roe Dr., Lewis Center (parcel 318-133-15-016-000)
• Why it’s notable: Setback variances are common but still judged against practical difficulty and whether nearby properties are affected.
Home-based roofing business on Africa Road
• Case: Conditional Use #CU-25-24, Erin Kieser
• Request: A conditional use under Section 7.04(a) to operate a home occupation with an office, indoor storage of supplies, and parking for company vehicles. The applicant says there will be no retail activity or customer traffic. Zoning is Farm Residential (FR-1).
• Site: 7343 Africa Rd., Galena (parcel 318-414-01-019-000)
• Why it’s notable: The board will look at intensity of use, parking, and whether operations remain compatible with a residential setting.
Enlargement of a nonconforming structure on West Orange Avenue
• Case: Variance/Conditional Use #VA-CU-25-25, The Cleary Company c/o John Hamlett
• Request: A conditional use under Section 24 for enlarging a nonconforming structure, plus an area variance from Section 24.03(e) to exceed the 50% cap on enlarging a nonconforming use in FR-1.
• Site: 8090 W. Orange Ave., Delaware (parcel 318-233-03-001-000)
• Why it’s notable: Expansions of nonconforming structures are tightly limited. Exceeding 50% requires clear justification and mitigation of impacts.
Wall sign above the 15-foot limit in Planned Industrial district
• Case: Variance #VA-25-26, DaNite Sign Company c/o Logan Dilts
• Request: An area variance to place a wall sign higher than the 15-foot maximum in a Planned Industrial district.
• Site: 8337 Green Meadows Dr., Lewis Center (parcel 318-313-04-007-000)
• Why it’s notable: Height variances for signage are reviewed for visibility needs, building design, and consistency with corridor character.
How to review the files
Applications and plans are available for inspection at the Orange Township Zoning Office, 1680 East Orange Road, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding legal holidays. Materials will be on file for at least 10 days before the hearing.
Following the hearing, the board may meet for general business such as approving minutes and scheduling future hearings.
Questions
Email orangezoning@orangetwp.org.
Notice provided by Eric Gayetsky, Orange Township Zoning Department.
