Janis Chance loves hearing schoolchildren play and sing near her Smyrna Road home.
She told the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals the small school located there benefits the area’s Amish community. Sam and Lydiann Shrock petitioned the BZA for a variance of use permitting the 2-year-old school that educates about 20 children.
During its Sept. 9 meeting, the BZA approved the petition 5-0. The school must now receive appropriate permits and have necessary inspections.
Other neighbors also supported the school in person and through letters. David Wesler told the BZA that the children are nice and polite and the school causes no issues.
Joanne Buroker, the city’s zoning administrator, recommended the petition’s approval. She said the school has minimal impact and does not alter the area’s agricultural character because it’s adequately separated from neighbors on the Shrocks’ 45-acre property.
Sam Shrock said that if the school for grades 1 through 8 grows beyond 20 students another school would form.
The BZA also unanimously approved two petitions involving accessory structures.
Larry Bennett received variances of development standards to construct a 20-foot-by-60-foot pole barn at 533 NW L St. The property will be split, with the barn joining the lawn-care business operating at 1205 NW Sixth St.
Bennett must now apply for a minor subdivision to combine the pole barn with the North West Sixth Street property and must submit building plans prior to constructing the pole barn.
Ron Wilson received a variance of development standards to build a 24-foot-by-24-foot garage at 408 SW 16th St. Wilson plans to park two vehicles in the garage and have a work space.
The variance was necessary because the garage exceeds the maximum allowable square footage for the size of the residence.
The board voted to move its November meeting to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17. It was scheduled for Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day.
A version of this article appeared in the September 16 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
