Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission members Doug Ruch, Joe Cazier and Lee Harman discuss a few things prior to Wednesday afternoon’s meeting. Photo by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Rezonings, a preliminary plat approval and final plat approvals were all unanimously approved or will have recommendations sent to the county commissioners following the monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, Wednesday, May 4.

The final plat approval request by the Gloria Shipley Trust for a residential development on the south side of Old Shoe Lake Road, north of Brandywine Lane in Tippecanoe Township, received a unanimous approval. Steve Snyder appeared on behalf of the trust noting that Old Shoe Lake Road had been vacated and a portion of the roadway has been dedicated as a public right-of-way. He also noted he has modified the covenant to cover any future sale of portions of Lot 7 to neighboring property owners.

The request by Michael Cox to rezone 8.83 acres of the former Wawasee Airport property from public use to commercial will go before the county commissioners at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, for final approval.

Cox’s request was continued from the April meeting to work out an agreement with neighbors opposing the rezoning. While he admitted he did not speak with the previous remonstrators, he did present a revised plan where only a portion of the property needed to be rezoned. The former runway area will remain zoned as public use. This will include the dissolving of the Wawasee Condo Association, of which there are three lots. Owners of these lots are in agreement.

During his presentation Cox stated he ultimately could see the rezoning of the runway area as commercial for a better resale value.

Lloyd Turner and Moussa Ward, while both in favor of the new rezoning request, spoke against any future rezoning of the former landing strip from public use to commercial. Both men reiterated why they had moved to that area and did not want commercial buildings in their backyards. It was noted that a school, church, government building, park or golf course could still be built on that property under the public use designation.

Also going before the county commissioners in May will be:

• The petition by Ernst and Dora Hochstetler to rezone 20.03 acres from agricultural to agricultural II. Ernst Hochstetler stated he recently purchased the property and wants to sell half the acreage to his son. Eventually there will be two homes built. The property is located on CR 750W, north of CR 1300N, in Jefferson Township
• The request by Ronald and Betsy Spiegel to rezone their property on CR 400N, east of Terry Drive in Tippecanoe Township, from residential to agricultural. The Spiegels requested the rezoning in case they decide to sell the property in the future. The property, which contains a wetland and is next to Heron Lake, includes a wooded area.
• Preliminary plat approval was given for Noah Anderson Jr. and Jarad Eberly. Anderson requested the property at the corner of Syracuse and East streets in Milford be re-platted. Anderson wants to divide the large lot into two lots. Eberly requested to incorporate two lots into one lot. He noted he has already deeded the two lots into one and there will be no separate sell-off. Following a discussion regarding easements on the property, the board approved the preliminary plat with the understanding that the easement locations will need to be addressed. The property is located on the east side of EMS C31 Lane in Plain Township.

While the regular business lasted only 45 minutes, the remaining 30 minutes of the meeting was spent conducting a public hearing on the county comprehensive plan. The board recommended approval of the plan, which will now go before the county commissioners and before each town participating in the plan. The plan can be viewed on the Area Planning office’s website.

There was also discussion regarding the updated flood ordinance. Matt Sandy, assistant planner, will continue working on the ordinance, submit a draft to the Department of Natural Resources for comment and bring it back before the commission in June.