Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission voted to extend deadlines for contractor Terry Shepherd to have work done in the Candlewood subdivision, but with conditions attached. The action was taken during the regular monthly meeting Sept. 4 of the APC in Warsaw.

Shepherd was facing a Sept. 5 deadline to have roadwork completed and also to repair a catch basin. Residents of the Candlewood subdivision at Packerton Road and CR 375 South have complained because the roads were not completed when the subdivision was built. Matt Sandy, assistant planning director for the county, informed the APC Shepherd said Niblock submitted a bid to do road paving but is not able to complete the work until Oct. 5. Terry Shepherd Construction will do the necessary repairs on a catch basin.

The county has a valid bond on file expiring in January 2014 that will pay for the roadwork, but Sandy noted it would take longer to get the roadwork completed if the county chooses to cash in the bond because bids would have to be submitted. “It could be November or even next spring before it would be finished,” he said.

But Niblock will not do the road paving until the catch basin has been properly repaired, creating a concern given Shepherd’s history of not complying with requirements.

After discussion, the APC voted to set a Sept. 23 deadline for the catch basin to be repaired and also inspected by the county highway department. A deadline of Oct. 5 was set for the paving to be finished by Niblock. If that deadline is not met, the county will cash in the bond.

In other business, the APC unanimously recommended approval for a petition by Renee Hursey Trust to rezone 8.56 acres of land from residential to agricultural. The land is located on Wild Cherry Lane, north of Mulberry Drive in Turkey Creek Township. Dan Richard, area planning director, noted the property is part of a development that was eventually abandoned and is located in the Tecumwah Valley addition.

Richard said the Hursey family plans to have a large storage building built and that can’t be done on residential property without an exception granted by the county board of zoning appeals. The Hurseys own commercial property to the west of the site. Curt Hursey, speaking on behalf of his mother, said the family plans to purchase other nearby lots.

Chuck Haffner of the APC said the area was not a good choice for residential development due to the configuration of the roads and “we should move forward with this rezoning.” County commissioners will consider the petition at their Sept. 24 meeting.

Also on the agenda, the APC unanimously recommended approval for a road vacation on a portion of Zook Avenue in the Pickwick Park subdivision in Syracuse. Petitioners are Scott and Elizabeth Hirschman.

Richard said the portion of roadway is privately maintained and is used for parking. Andrew Grossnickle, attorney representing the Hirschmans, said it is no longer used as a road. At least one other nearby section of the road has been vacated in the past.

County commissioners will consider the petition at their Sept. 24 meeting.

Other business included the APC approving a resolution for a tax increment financing district in Milford to have its expiration extended from 2016 to 2026. The TIF established in 1996 involves a little more than 200 acres bounded by CR 1300 North (extended to the west) on the north, Syracuse Street on the south, Old SR 15 on the east and roughly the Chore Time plant to the west.

Approving the resolution is one step in a process also including approval by the Milford Town Council and Milford Redevelopment Commission, as well as a public hearing.

And the APC approved the final plat to have one lot in the Cunningham subdivision re-platted. Petitioners were Kenneth and Vera Mullet and the property is on CR 1350 North near CR 700 West in Jefferson Township.

Richard informed the APC discussion will begin during the October meeting on a proposed ordinance amendment concerning setback requirements for homes near lakes. He said the wording of the ordinance can be confusing and interpreted differently.

APC meetings are held at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the old courtroom of the county courthouse, Warsaw. The public is welcome to attend.