WARSAW — Plenty of activity is occurring in an old molasses factory by the railroad tracks in Syracuse. According to Dan Richard, area planning director, “a number of uses are already there.”

During the regular monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission Wednesday afternoon, April 6, in Warsaw, Swiss Perfection petitioned the APC to rezone a portion of the property from industrial II to commercial. It is located on the east side of Huntington Street (SR 13), at the intersection with Baltimore Street in Syracuse.

Richard noted rezoning the property to commercial would be less restrictive when considering future development. Not as much is permitted in the industrial zoning category. “The I-2 can be a hindrance to development,” he said.

Roy Schwartz, owner of the property, said none of the uses for the property will be changed.

Some concern was expressed by APC member Chuck Haffner, though, who said he drove by the property on his way to the meeting and saw pallets and other trash strewn about on the east end of the property next to a house. He said some type of screening is needed to protect the neighbors.

The APC recommended approval of the petition and when it is presented to the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday evening, April 19, Richard will inform the council about the suggestion for screening.

In other business, the APC recommended approval of a public way vacation in the Pfeiffer-Veach addition at Sawmill Lake in Tippecanoe Township. The petitioner is Steven Dandurand. Richard noted there have been several road vacations already in this subdivision.

It was platted in 1943 when the intent was for lake summer cottages only, but since then the need for roads and alleys has been negated because bigger houses are being built on combined lots. Steve Snyder, attorney, said Dandurand wants to make improvements to the lot.

There was some discussion about whether or not the Lakeland Sewer District has any plans to build a sewer line in the area. Snyder said he has not heard of any specific plans for sewer work to be done in the immediate area. But it was noted even if the public way is vacated, an easement can still be obtained to build a sewer line.

County commissioners will consider the petition at their Tuesday, April 19, meeting.

Also on the agenda, approval was given by the APC for the final plat of Candlewood Estates off CR 400S in Wayne Township. It is for six platted lots, an extension of an existing subdivision. The drainage plan was accepted and everything else was done as requested earlier by the planning commission.

Mike Kissinger of the APC, also the county surveyor, asked if anything would be said in the final plat about restricting any building on the emergency access involving two of the lots. It will be added to the wording on the final plat.

In other business, Richard noted revisions to the existing sign ordinance for the county are still being worked on.