Serenity House received approval for a use variance at 321 High St., Warsaw, for a third house in Warsaw.

Perception over reality. That was a thought by Rick Keeven, member of the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals, of residents in areas where Serenity House has sought to open a third facility.

Jeff “Hoss” Smith was before the city’s BZA Monday evening to request a use variance for 321 High St., to open a second men’s recovery home. While the variance was granted 3-1, it wasn’t without opposition. Smith was before the board in March for a use variance on East Fort Wayne Street, which was denied.

Labeled as a boarding house, Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, recommended approval of the variance. He noted the home, formerly used as a business, is in a C-4 district, has two parking lots, three egress and ingress accesses and in a dense enough area to handle the proposed use. He noted the city has no good use classification for the type of facility operated by Serenity House. The term boarding house is the closest definition.

During comments from those in opposition two residents near the location, Bob Lamirand and Daren Maierle voiced concern of foot traffic and vehicle traffic at all hours of the day and night. It was three city councilmen who raised the most objections.

One letter objecting to the variance was received from Steve Frecker. His concern focused on the number of persons living in the home, concern for apartment residents and possible busyness and commotion surrounding the home. “We do not want to lose our renters over this.”

Charlie Smith, Mike Klondaris and Cindy Dobbins asked the BZA to table the request and take the matter back to the plan commission and city council for further review and a closer look at the city planning.

Smith voiced concern over the number of people at the residence, city code, fire code, requirement of health permits and financial situation. He encouraged BZA members to look at other towns with such facilities.

Klondaris noted concern over the fairly busy intersection and that street already occupying a Bowen Center facility and pre-school. His requested a review by the plan  commission review to how best accommodate requests for boarding houses or half-way houses. He also referred to the Fort Wayne and Market Street locations where “not a single house has been sold … affecting property values and businesses.”

Dobbins echoed what her fellow councilmen stated adding the concerns she has received is “there is an awful lot of activity there.”

Jeff Smith rebutted  homes not being sold and stated he spoke to the planning department with all parties feeling Serenity House was a fit for that area. He is anticipating having 16 beds with two emergency beds for use when needed. It would be a men’s facility. “Serentiy House has done a lot of great work in this town,” he stated. He also stressed the residents are “not here to cause problems,” but to volunteer. “I don’t know why people think they are criminals.”

Rene Osborn, county probation officer, spoke in favor of the home, noting the residents have stricter rules to follow from Smith than probation department provides. She also notes there is also a need for a women’s facility.

Ron Shoemaker, the lone objector to the request, questioned if there was zoning in the city that would accommodate such a facility. Dombrosky stated C4 is the best fit under the current use classifications. He also questioned the logic and also suggested the planning commission take a look at it.

Mike Valentine, city attorney, read the requirements the board has to follow in making a decision, and it was not a decision of the plan commission or city council. “If you make a decision through these requirements, I can argue for it if appealed.”

Keeven stated he did not recall any testimony saying the presence of Serenity House affected the value of property. “The only negative I heard was traffic. This (location) is better than the last one. I like the idea of a home (over an institution). A home normalizes the transition … I think it is more perception than reality … I don’t know if it is angst or something else. These guys are highly motivated to get in and messing up is not an option.” He also referred to other homes operated by agencies such as Cardinal services. “They take better care of the home than some homeowners do.”

Jack Wilhite stated he has been bothered for some time that proof of property values are less has not been shown. He also was concerned not a lot of evidence has been presented. “Is there any objective evident? Unfortunately it was not presented tonight.”

It appeared as if Keeven’s motion to accept the variance would die due to a lack of a second, however board president, Tom Allen, made the second after giving other board members an opportunity.

Marina Approved

During other business and with no opposition, Adam Heckaman’s request for a use variance at 650 E. Winona Ave., for a retail marina was unanimously approved. Heckaman is president of Splendor Boats, Silver Lake.

Heckaman stated the property will be made habitable, updated, a fence added at the south end of the property with landscaping. The plan is to provide a full service marina with sales and service.

The Board of Zoning will met again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.