Summary
The Village of Suttons Bay Zoning Board of Appeals met April 1, 2026, with a public hearing scheduled on a dimensional variance request from Rosemary Hollander involving 211 W. Broadway and 215 W. Broadway. The document also includes minutes from the Board's prior meeting on January 14, 2026, at which two separate interpretation/variance matters (Robert Barnes and Inland Seas Education Association) were resolved.
Public Comments
At the January 14, 2026 meeting, applicant Robert Barnes spoke regarding his driveway width request at 324 N. St. Mary's Street. At the Inland Seas hearing, Scott Jowziak (representing the applicant) addressed the Board regarding Dame Street's classification, noting it is 29.7 feet wide with an 11% grade and stated the classification would not affect Act 51 funding. Ray Kendra responded to a question from Chair Popke about an exterior stairway, explaining it connects lower and upper-level parking and provides handicap access. Resident Fred Sitkens commented that he appreciated the discussion and felt the ordinance's intent was not to allow buildings up to Dame Street.
For the April 1, 2026 Hollander hearing, the staff report notes that as of March 27, 2026, the Village had not received any written public comment on the request.
Infrastructure Projects
The Inland Seas Education Association hearing concerned whether Dame Street (at 100 & 101 E. Dame Street) should be classified as an "Alley" versus a "side street" for zoning setback purposes. Zoning Administrator Patmore explained the distinction affects required building and parking setbacks. Jowziak argued Dame Street does not meet standard street grade requirements and requested the alley classification to avoid repeated variance applications. The Board (Hassevoort moved, Bahle seconded) voted CARRIED 5-0 to classify Dame Street as an Alley based on five findings: it is less than 30 feet wide, has an 11% grade, has no parking lanes or gutters, has no sidewalks, and has historically been used for ingress/egress.
Other Business
At the January 14, 2026 meeting, the Board elected officers: Bahle moved, Smith seconded, CARRIED 5-0, electing Donna Popke as Chair, Karen Hassevoort as Vice Chair, and Gary Cheadle as Secretary. The Board also approved the August 13, 2025 meeting minutes (Smith moved, Bahle seconded, CARRIED 5-0).
On the Robert Barnes matter, the Board (Bahle moved, Smith seconded) voted CARRIED 5-0 to agree with Zoning Administrator Patmore's interpretation that the 12-foot driveway width limit under Section 2-4.D.4.b does not apply to rear/alley access, and further asked the Planning Commission to review that section to determine if rear access driveways should be specifically addressed.
For the April 1, 2026 hearing, the Zoning Administrator's staff report outlines the Hollander request in detail: Parcel A needs a 6.00-foot variance and Parcel B a 22.11-foot variance from the 80-foot Lot Width requirement on First Street, plus a possible variance from the 4:1 maximum depth-to-width ratio (calculated at 5.10:1 for Parcel B using First Street frontage, though it meets the ratio using Broadway frontage). The report notes both properties are legal non-conforming lots created before the current ordinance, with the requested transfer making both parcels "through lots" for the first time.
Action Items
- Planning Commission to review Section 2-4.D.4.b of the Zoning Ordinance to determine if rear access driveways should be addressed (assigned following the January 14, 2026 Barnes decision).
- Zoning Board of Appeals to hold public hearing and take action on the Hollander dimensional variance request at the April 1, 2026 meeting, including findings of fact on each of the five standards under Section 17-6.A.1 and a decision on whether to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the variances.
- Staff report notes a condition should be considered: Parcel 1 shown on the Certificate of Survey is part of Parcel B and not approved as a separate lot of record due to lot width, unless future ordinance amendments allow it.