Mandy Espinoza of the area planning commission.

By Tim Ashley
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Feeling it is not compatible with the surrounding area, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission unanimously recommended to deny a rezoning petition of the Indiana North District Wesleyan Church during the regular monthly meeting of the APC Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 3, in Warsaw.

The petition is to rezone ground from residential to commercial on the west side of SR 15 at the intersection with Dixie Drive just outside the town limits of Silver Lake. During the October meeting the planning commission voted to table the petition in order to seek input from the Silver Lake Town Council. The property is owned currently by the Silver Lake Wesleyan Church.

Matt Sandy, assistant planning director, said the town council did not give any official recommendation.

Spencer O’Dell, representing the property owner and developer, said the intent is to put a grocery store on about 4 acres of the parcel and leave the rest zoned residential. He said the site lends itself to commercial use and there are very few available commercial buildings in Silver Lake.

Pastor Duane Seitz of Silver Lake Wesleyan spoke in favor of the development saying he has heard many times from his congregation it would be nice to have a grocery store in Silver Lake so they wouldn’t have to drive to Wabash or Warsaw to get food. “There is a need for this in Silver Lake,” he said.

But he was the only remonstrator who spoke in favor of the petition and others said they don’t want to look out their front window and see a grocery store. One remonstrator said there is already a Family Dollar store in Silver Lake and he knows of farmers who are willing to sell food.

Gloria Weller of the Silver Lake Town Council said there are six to eight empty commercial buildings in town. She said the town needs residential development more than commercial development.

Nearly all of the surrounding property is zoned residential with the exception of one commercial site and some agricultural land. The county commissioners will consider the petition at their Tuesday, Nov. 23, meeting.

In other business, the APC unanimously voted to recommend approval of a petition from Mark and Leann Hubbs to rezone ground from residential to commercial at the intersection of Effie Mae and Lura Mae streets in North Webster. They plan to use the property to put in boat storage units of various sizes.

Mike Kissinger of the planning commission noted some type of detention pond will be needed for drainage due to a 6 foot drop on the property. He said there may be some limitations on what can be done due to drainage.

Lee Harman, chairman of the APC, asked about buffering such as proper lighting and screening. Mark Hubbs said “we are willing to do whatever is needed.”

There was no remonstrance to the petition and the North Webster Town Council will consider the petition at its Nov. 23 meeting.

Also during the meeting a petition was recommended for approval for Lori Lea Schrader to rezone 1 acre from commercial to residential in the small, unincorporated community of Wooster on Washington Road in Washington Township. The property had been zoned commercial since the county zoning laws went into effect in 1975 and at one time was a salvage yard.

Schrader plans to have a house built on the property.

Last on the agenda the APC approved a preliminary plat for Ryan Lewis for a one lot residential development on the south side of Warner Road, north of Cornelius Road in Turkey Creek Township. Megan Lewis, Ryan’s wife, said her in-laws own the property and she and Ryan want to have a house built for their family.