St. Ignatius Loyola Church has received a variance to install an elevator on the corner of Church and Spring Streets, making the church barrier free. A variance needed to allow the enclosure, which will encroach on a 30-foot setback, was granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at a hearing Monday evening, January 5.

A last minute modification to the addition, zoning board members said, allowed the project, which will extend to 12 feet from the sidewalk.

The variance stipulates that no parking be allowed from the new addition entrance to the west curb of Church Street. The area will be posted a passenger drop-off zone. From the new entry west will be angle parking designated handicap only.

The church is zoned R-2 and fronts Church Street. The entryway for the proposed elevator addition will face Spring Street.

The church sought the variance after a building permit was denied, based on the 30-foot setback requirement. At that time, the addition would have extended five feet, eight inches from the edge of the sidewalk. The new plan brings the edge of the addition 12 feet from the sidewalk, which city police said would not block the view of the intersection for motorists.

Spring Street resident John Elliott cautioned that, unless the area outside the elevator entrance is marked "no parking" to allow for drop-off access, double-parking there could cause traffic congestion on Spring Street.

His suggestion resulted in creation of the no parking zone.

Dave Walker and Dave Schmidt represented the church at the meeting and said future plans include making the parking angled and designating it for handicap parking. The church hopes to construct two or three handicap parking places, depending on the space.

The ZBA gave the church one year to build the addition. Mr. Walker said the church hopes to begin work in the spring.