The Highlands Emergency Council will soon be able to take in donations comfortably, no matter the weather, following approval of a variance by the town board of commissioners.
The variance will allow the emergency council to install an awning on the side of its building at 71 Poplar Street, which will cover the area immediately outside the garage door where donations are taken in.
“The Emergency Council requested this variance after receiving a grant to purchase the awning,” Highlands Town Manager Josh Ward said. “Covering the area outside the garage door will make their pickups and drop-offs safer and much more convenient, especially if it happens to be raining or snowing that day.”
Ward unveiled an architectural drawing of what the awning will look like and explained that the structure will stick out six feet from the building toward Poplar Street. In doing so, the awning will encroach on town’s mandatory 25-foot setback from the right of way.
Commissioner Marc Hehn asked if there was a town policy regarding the town’s authority to grant a setback variance.
“There is, as long as the building is for public use, and I would certainly contend that the Emergency Council as a public nonprofit is for public use,” Ward said. “Basically, an encroachment is allowable as long as it’s approved by this board.”
Mayor Patrick Taylor presented a resolution outlining the variance request and approval by the board. The commissioners then approved the resolution unanimously.
“I think the awning will not only serve a practical purpose, to keep everyone out of the rain while they are dropping off donations, but it will also improve the look of the building itself,” commissioner Amy Patterson said. “Anything we can do to improve a community asset, like the Emergency Council, we should be willing to do.”
The Highlands Emergency Council is available for assistance from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Donations of food, clothing, appliances, linens and furniture are accepted. For more information or assistance, call 828-526-HELP.