North Judson Resident Requests Zoning Variance to Rebuild Destroyed Home

  
 
The North Judson Board of Zoning Appeals will consider a variance request by town resident Jason Kersting in a public meeting on May 28 at 7 p.m. Kersting is requesting the variance because his house at 214 W. Weninger St. in North Judson was completely destroyed by a fire three months ago and he’s running into some issues with zoning laws in his effort to reconstruct the home.

Kersting wants to build a new house of similar dimensions on the property, but the house would not meet the minimum square foot requirements set by zoning laws – that is, 1250 feet. While Kersting could build a structure of 1250 feet and comply with the zoning regulations, he is requesting the variance to build the new structure to a similar size.

The original structure was smaller than the current minimum square foot requirement, but Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said that was probably due to the building being constructed before the requirements were in place. Now that the house has been destroyed, the construction of a new house would be considered a new structure and subject to current zoning laws.

Because of this complication, Kersting is requesting a zoning variance to allow him to ignore the minimum square footage requirement and construct a house on the property. The BZA will hear his request at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at the North Judson Civic Center.