Kosciusko County Plan Commission Continues Barbee Lake Replat Request
By Maggie Kenworthy
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — During the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission meeting held today, Aug. 5, over an hour of the discussion was focused on a replat request for the Barbee Lake area.
Blake and Apryl Harris requested preliminary plat approval for the replat of lot four in Brannon Estates in Pierceton. The property is on Big Barbee Lake, between EMS B51A Lane and EMS B1A Lane. This request adds land that was acquired during a quiet title action to the plat and moves the building line to 35-feet from the water’s edge.
Attorney Steve Snyder represented the petitioners at the meeting. He acknowledged that the property was in a floodplain but stated that there was still an adequate building area, estimating that the lot could hold up to a 6,000 square foot residence. In addition, he provided an agreement with the Lakeland Regional Sewer District that states if the line needs relocated in order to build on the lot, the sewer district accepts responsibility.
Four neighbors of the property were present at the meeting to ask questions, with three of them opposing the request. Many of the neighbors were concerned about the quiet title action, but that was a court proceeding and not relevant to this request.
Other concerns included access to the lake via the platted easement. Snyder assured that the residents with deeded access to the easement would still have access to the lake, but it may be on the opposite side of the property. All parties with a stake in the easement would have to agree upon any changes and that was also not a matter for the APC.
County Surveyor Mike Kissinger noted that a main concern with moving the building line was the fact that the lot is in a flood zone.
“I don’t think we want to promote people building in the floodplain,” said Kissinger.
He noted that the property owner would be required to elevate any structure built on the lot, which could cause more flooding issues for other properties in the area. The county ordinance states that, “all subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimum flood damage.”
The board decided to continue the request, requesting that the petitioners draw up a plan to show that they can meet the stormwater control ordinance.
In other news:
- The board granted final plat approval for LRB Estates for a properly on the south side of Old Road 30, east of Davilla Court in Warsaw. The request was made to reconfigure the property lines of two lots.
- The board continued a request made by Cynthia Brown to rezone ground from a Residential District to a Commercial District. The property is located on the north side of Crow Road, west of East Wawasee Drive in Syracuse.
- Approved a request made by Deborah Meyer for preliminary plat approval for the replat of lot number four in Lake Forest, Warsaw. The property is located on the westside side of EMS C29 Lane, south of CR 450N. This moves an easement to allow an existing deck and pool to remain as placed.
- Approved a request made by Michael Long for preliminary plat approval for a Residential II lot development on a 5.5-acre tract of ground. The property is located on the south side of Hoffman Lake Road, east of CR800S, in Warsaw. This separates the lot to allow for a residence to built on a smaller tract of land.
- Continued a request to vacate a portion of a right-of-way within Blueberry Island 4th addition.