After 15 years, Tom Allen is stepping down from the Warsaw Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. His last meeting with the plan commission was Monday. Pictured in front from the left are Commission member and Common Councilwoman Diane Quance, Allen, Mayor Joe Thallemer, Commission member Michelle Boxell and Commission member Jim Gast. In back are
Commission Vice President Rick Keeven, City Planner Justin Taylor, Commission member Bob Coffelt, Commission member and city engineer Aaron Ott. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — After 15 years, Tom Allen is stepping down from the Warsaw Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

The commission and Mayor Joe Thallemer recognized Allen for his service after unanimously and quickly approving two preliminary plats and replats.

“We wanted to take a moment and just recognize Tom Allen’s contribution to this board. He’s been on this board since 2007, and we really appreciate his service and this will be his last meeting with the board,” City Planner Justin Taylor said before presenting Allen with a plaque. “It’s been an honor to have him serve the city, and I’m sure he can tell you stories about how the city has grown since the beginning of his time here.”

Allen has served as president of the commission and BZA for a number of years, with Rick Keeven serving as his vice president.

Keeven told Allen it’s been a pleasure serving with him and his leadership has been much appreciated.

Allen stated, “Thank you very much. I’ll just say a few words about how much I appreciate working with everybody. I love this city, and I always look at this as a bit of a payback for what the city has done for my family. I think we’ve contributed a lot over the years — Rick and I have been on both boards together for a long time.”

He thanked the city for the appointment, saying he appreciated the time he got to serve.

Thallemer told Allen he just wanted to thank him for his service.

“I finished on the Plan Commission in 2008, and you took over for me. I was president for eight years. You beat my longevity record for being president. You’ve served the board well and I certainly appreciate your time and commitment and everything you’ve done. It certainly means a lot and I thank you,” Thallemer said.

After the meeting, Thallemer said he was still in the process of finding and naming Allen’s replacement on the boards, but it could be as early as this week.

The first petition for a preliminary plat and final replat was from 2525 LP to consolidate lots and clean up the right-of-way at 2525 Durbin St. The 3.15 acres is being developed by Real America into affordable apartment homes.

Taylor said the preliminary and final replat for the Winona Park seventh amended subdivision and additional plat was submitted in a timely fashion and reviewed for its conformity to the city’s subdivision control ordinance.

“The proposed plat meets the development standards for a subdivision within an (Industrial-2) zoning district. This replat merges a series of lots to create one 3.15-acre lot. This replat also cleans up right-of-way along Hendricks Street,” Taylor said.

The purpose of the replat is to provide for a 60-unit affordable housing complex, he said, and recommended the plan commission grant preliminary and final approval for the plat as presented.

There were no remonstrators.

Keeven said he was excited to see the development and made the motion to approve the preliminary plat. The preliminary plat was approved and motions to suspend the rules and approve the final plat also were given approval.

The next petition for a preliminary plat and final replat was from Biomet Inc. to subdivide one lot to create a second lot south of 56 E. Bell Drive.

Taylor told the Commission the preliminary and final replat of lot 1 in the Zimmer Biomet South Subdivision was submitted in a timely fashion and reviewed for its conformity to the Subdivision Control Ordinance.

“The proposed plat meets the development standards for a subdivision within an I-2 zoning district. This replat is a simple subdivision of a 7.9-acre lot to create a second smaller lot on the west portion of the property. The newly created 1-acre lot will have frontage along Bell Drive, and access to utilities, as well as ingress/egress along Bell Drive as well,” Taylor said. He recommended the plan commission grant preliminary and final approval for the plat “since there’s no additional public infrastructure.”

There were no remonstrators.

Keeven asked if there was any proposed usage for the property at this time.

“No. It could be to change ownership or anything, but we don’t need to dive into those details,” Taylor said.

Motions to approve the preliminary plat, suspend the rules and to approve the final plat also passed.