Attorney Scott Federoff was present at the meeting representing two requests.

WARSAW — During a two-hour meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 5, the Kosciusko Area Planning Commission tabled a rezoning request while approving four other requests on the agenda.

Scott Anderson requested to rezone property on the south side of CR 700N, west of CR 300E in Syracuse from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district.

Anderson explained that the property had already used it’s three allowed sell-offs. He wished to further divide his land with the intention to sell-off the plot without his house so that another home could be built there. The only way a property can achieve more than three sell-offs is through rezoning.

Area Planning Director Dan Richard explained that the limitation on the allowed sell-offs was intended to preserve the agricultural areas in the county.

“My concern with this is where does this stop,” commented Chairman Lee Harman. “Are we opening a can of worms here?”

Two neighbors were present at the meeting to object to the request. They also brought along a letter of remonstrance and a petition with 13 signatures from surrounding neighbors.

When asked for a motion to approve or deny the request, none of the board members spoke up. After a few moments, a motion to continue the request was made and approved. The board asked for the neighboring homeowners to come to next month’s meeting to explain how the sell-off would be a detriment.

The other request that involved remonstrance was a preliminary plat approval request made by FFS Lift for a lot located in White Manor Estates in Warsaw.

Christopher McCrea, a representative of John Kimpel & Associates, presented the request. The replat would involve relocating a drainage and utility easement from lot 7. The easement would be combined with the existing lot to the west of the property at 3631 E. Pierceton Road, Warsaw.

Three neighbors of White Manor Estates presented concerns. They expressed that within the last week, a drive had been added to the property of 3631 E. Pierceton Road, extending from outbuildings in the back of the property up to lot 7. Their concern is that with the replat of the lots, the drive would then connect to Pierceton Road. The assumption of the neighbors was that some kind of business is or will be conducted in the outbuildings once the road is built. But, the owner of the property was not present to confirm or deny these assumptions.

Richard explained that the property is zoned agriculture, which means the property owner would have to petition for approval in order to conduct anything business-related on the property. He further explained that the property owner is allowed to put any road or drive on their property if it’s for personal use.

The board approved the preliminary plat with the condition that the property owner at 3631 E. Pierceton Road contacts the planning department to discuss their intentions with the property and possible restrictive covenants attached to White Manor Estates. The request will come before the board again for final plat approval.

In other news, the board:

• • Approved a continued request by John Ward to rezone 6.81 acres from an Industrial 2 District to an Industrial 3 District. The property is located on the east side of SR 15, north of CR 1350N in Milford. The motion failed to gather enough votes to pass last month. The approval recommendation will go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners on Feb. 18.
  • Approved a request made by Doug Dickerhoff to rezone ground off the west side of Franklin Street in Mentone, from a commercial district to an agricultural district. This approval recommendation will also go before the commissioners.
  • Approved a preliminary plat request made by Paul Reith regarding lot 49 in Deeds Creek Manor, Warsaw. The replat involves the relocation of a drainage easement to allow a structure to fit on the lot easier.
  • Approved a motion to include a letter of support with a grant application being filed by the Kosciusko Community Foundation which would fund a new County Comprehensive Plan.