RICHMOND, Ind. — A westside restaurant might now move four blocks east on National Road West after a Wednesday night BZA ruling.

All three Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals members in attendance voted to grant a zoning variance that would allow a restaurant to occupy the former Phillips Drugs location at 1390 National Road W. Great Wall, which is now located at 1731 National Road W., in a strip mall plans to relocate to the building.

Freddy Chang said the standalone building is a draw, as is the proximity to Earlham College. In addition to being more convenient for customers, with access directly from National Road West, South West 14th Street and the alley between South West 13th and 14th, the building has a drive-through window. The 0.854-acre property also has plenty of convenient parking for dine-in customers.

Chang said his family has operated about two decades in the strip mall that now includes the Smoke Shop, Dollar General, EZ Pawn and Advance Auto Parts. The Smoke Shop, which is directly next to Great Wall on the strip mall's east end, has created some issues with individuals standing around smoking outside Great Wall, Chang said.

The storefront immediately on the other side of Great Wall has been vacant since it's renovation following a March 2018 fire. The fire, which temporarily closed Great Wall, destroyed the adjacent store that had been an Anytime Fitness. The roof collapsed and an excavator was needed to pull away rubble to expose hot spots. It took more than 12 hours to completely extinguish the fire.

Ian Vanness, the city's director of infrastructure and development, told BZA members that the former Phillips building had originally been a Cassano's pizza restaurant. City staff recommended approval of limited commercial zoning variance.

The building's drive-through received a variance in 2008 and is considered legal but not conforming to the zoning. Vanness said that a restaurant, because of the drive-through, is a primary way to reuse the existing structure, and the parking and street access also fit well with a restaurant.

No one spoke either for or against the variance during the public hearing; however, two letters of support had been received by city staff.

In another 3-0 decision Wednesday, BZA members approved a variance for Porter Advertising at 901 N. G St.

Porter is combining three lots in the Elizabeth Starr platted subdivision to build a 6,400-square-foot office and storage building. Wednesday's approval was a technicality necessary to combine the three lots into a 0.46-acre area.

Richmond Common Council has already approved a zoning change for the land that sits between Chester Boulevard and North Ninth Street. It's now zoned general commercial. The three lots have remained vacant for about 40 years.

Porter, which specializes in custom vinyl banners, window decals and billboards, has been part of the Richmond community since 1945, company president Richard Peterson told council during January. It currently is housed at 12 N. 17th St.