Steve Ferrucci, chair of the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals, said he could not recall ever seeing a short-term rental variance request receive unanimous and enthusiastic support from residents in the affected neighborhood.

But that is what happened at Thursday’s board meeting.

Lynda Pendleton and her sister inherited a home on Wakefield Place in the Harrison Green neighborhood. Their mother lived in the house for many years before moving into nursing home care. Pendleton told the board the income from operating the house as a short-term rental helped defray the cost of caring for their mother, who has since died.

The sisters continued the short-term rental arrangement until the city, during its rental registration process, informed them they would need a zoning variance to continue using the home for that purpose.

Pendleton gave board members a detailed presentation, explaining how she and her sister carefully screen renters and maintain the property. She also read a series of letters from nearby residents, all supporting the variance request. Two people spoke during the public hearing, both in favor of the request.

State law limits how much cities can regulate short-term rentals. However, because no one lives in the home as a primary residence, the city is allowed to review this particular short-term rental use.

The board voted unanimously to approve the zoning variance.

In one other item before the board, members unanimously approved a request from Mission Christian Academy, located on Publishers Drive near 131st Street east of State Road 37, to place two additional portable classrooms on its property through July 2028.

School officials told the board they are working with an architect on plans to either reconfigure the current building or construct an addition to provide more classroom space.