WARSAW — Changes to the city’s comprehensive plan to emphasize affordable housing in the East Market Street Neighborhood, Sub-Area Plan, were approved unanimously at the Warsaw Plan Commission meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13. The changes were made to assist with a potential developer for the Little Crow Foods site.

Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, and Jeremy Skinner, city planner, stated Common Wealth Development, Madison, Wis., is applying for an Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Grant to convert the property into affordable housing.

Both planners noted this grant is awarded upon points with the more points the better chance of receiving a grant. The grant application is due Nov. 2 with awarding of the grant on Dec. 2.

To assist the developer in receiving more points, language changes were made in the comprehensive plan. “We are helping out by making amendments, specific language changes,” said Skinner “We’re not changing or altering the end goal or sub-plan.” Skinner also added he did not believe the company would stop if denied the grant on the first try as grants are issued twice a year.

Dombrosky stated the city is adding as much as it can and still comfortable with the plan, to help the grant application. “It makes the Market Street Community more accessible for grants.” Dombrsky stated changes included adding paragraphs specific to the location, a few word removals and changes, specifics towards apartments and apartment buildings. “This is not a code change, but recommendation, guidance in making other decisions. This is not binding.”

Added to the comprehensive plan was a new section regarding East Market Street neighborhood, one of the older neighborhoods. The section also states the future of the neighborhood hinges on revitalization of homes through direct investment, infrastructure improvement and supportive issues.

Other amendments included the adding major goals of providing high quality, affordable rental housing, increase housing diversity through infill development and reduce blight through adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

Additionally language was added regarding reuse of obsolete buildings for affordable housing, contributions to healthy neighborhoods by providing necessary services, limiting structures to three stories, with at least six dwelling units per acre.

A paragraph under strategy was added specifically noting the Little Crow buildings and its important location to the community, the partnering with IHCDA and its programs, which offer financial assistance in providing high quality affordable housing, while helping rebuild central city neighborhoods.

Increase Sign Size

Approval was given to Whitley Memorial Hospital Inc.,/Parkview, for an amendment to its development plan on the size of sign installed. The company had originally planned for a 24-foot by 18-foot sign, however due to the inability to negotiate an agreement with AT & T on fiber optics that are in that area, the sign will be moved back and a larger, 36-foot by 28.5 foot sign is proposed.

Pete Mallers, with Beers Mallers Blacks & Salin, Fort Wayne, presented the proposal. He stated the sign is comparable to Menard’s sign, but considerably less in square footage. The electronic sign, promoting Parkview Health and the YMCA, will need Indiana State Department of Transportation approval. The sign will also sit on the Parkview property, facing US 30.

Candace Townsend, a resident of Silver Fox, questioned the distance of the sign from the property and how close to the construction now occurring. It was noted the sign would be 75 feet to 80 feet from the roadway and thousands of feet away from the facility being constructed.

During other business the commission reviewed initial information on height restrictions in industrial zoning areas. This change in zoning will be site specific based regarding heights.

The next meeting of the plan commission will be 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9.