APC Continues Directional Sign Discussion
WARSAW — Real estate directional signs, such as a home for sale sign, have become a problem in recent months in Kosciusko County. During its regular monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 4, in Warsaw, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission continued a discussion starting last month about whether or not the ordinance governing real estate directional signs needs to be revised.
Dan Richard, area planning director, noted too many of the signs are being placed at or near entrances to subdivisions by agents representing multiple real estate agencies, thereby creating clutter. He said about 10 years ago, the Kosciusko County Board of Realtors worked with the APC to update the ordinance, but the problem has surfaced again. What prompted the latest discussion was a complaint from a real estate agent, not named, to one of the county commissioners, also not named.
Marsha Anderson, president, and Kim Clark, vice president of the board of realtors, appeared before the APC. Anderson feels a generic, simple directional sign, such as “home for sale” with an arrow and nothing else is what is needed. She noted an overwhelming majority of home buyers today already have a map printed out generated from the Internet.
Clark commented the clutter is not professional looking and can give the impression a particular real estate agency is being promoted since many of the signs have an agency logo or something similar. “It’s overkill to have more than one sign,” Anderson said.
The planning commission discussed the issue and had differing views. Lee Harman, chairman, said no one really has the time to police real estate directional signs. Presently the ordinance prohibits any sign from being placed in a road right of way, but many directional signs are.
Bob Sanders, newest member of the APC, suggested only allowing home for sale signs to be placed on the property being sold with the permission of the property owner. Kevin McSherry of the APC said he does not feel the county should be policing the signs.
It was noted Matt Sandy, assistant planner for the county, pulled about 50 signs in violation in a couple of hours in one day. “Do we want Matt spending all of his time pulling signs?” asked Harman.
No solution was arrived at and the discussion will continue at the Dec. 2 meeting of the APC.
In other business, the board gave its approval for a resolution to allow a tax increment financing district, specifically named the 30 West Economic Development Area, to be established. Chad Miner, county attorney, said the TIF would essentially encompass an area between Warsaw and the eastern edge of Etna Green. He said it is anticipated there will be $11 million in road improvements, specifically CR 875W and CR 350W, both of which would be rebuilt.
“A TIF allows us to get some money to benefit that area,” Miner said.
Also on the agenda, the APC recommended approval of a rezoning petition for Alan Rovenstine to rezone 5.718 acres of land from agricultural to commercial. The property is between Old Road 30 and US 30 near CR 800W in Etna Township.
Rovenstine said he may put the land up for sale to see if there is an interest in development. County commissioners will consider the petition at their Tuesday, Nov. 17, meeting.
And the APC approved new subdivision signage for Windmill West, west of Warsaw at Old Road 30 and River Ranch Road, and Harvest Ridge on CR 175E. Both subdivisions are in Wayne Township.