Debra and Todd Wilson, left,  brought in a 3-D cardboard rendering of what they wanted to do to their property during their variance hearing at the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning meeting this morning. Board members stated the Wilsons set a new bar for exhibits. Shown in the Middle is Matt Sandy, Area Plan director, On the right are BZA members, John Beer, Kevin McSherry, Lee Harman, Randy Cox and Ron Robinson. Photo by Lauren Zeugner

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Debra and Todd Wilson set a high bar for making a presentation before the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning during its regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 10. The couple brought in a cardboard 3-D rendering of what they wanted to do during their petition.

The couple was seeking a variance to permit the construction of decking 4 feet from a south property line and 1 foot from the west side property line. Using the model they made, the Wilsons showed the board where they would like to add onto their home for three bedrooms and have their deck wrap around the back of the house. Their neighbors had no issues with their plans.

The board approved the variance. The Wilsons property is located in Tippecanoe Township.

After much discussion the board approved a petition from Nancy Warrick, Sandra Bromley and Carolyn Haggard for the purpose of a change and alteration of a non-conforming seasonal mobile home park by allowing the original 21.2 acre tract of ground to remain as split in an agricultural district. Attorney Steve Snyder explained the park has existed for a number of years as a pre-existing non-conforming use. However, the property was split into three parcels when the petitioners father died. Snyder stressed the only change to the property was in title only. The property is located in Van Buren Township. The approval was made with the understanding if anything changed regarding the ownership of the property the petitioners would come back for a new hearing.

Several remonstrators were heard during a petition by Kevin Kleeman. Kleeman was seeking a variance to create a two lot subdivision with each lot having 73 feet of road frontage where 75 feet was required and 7,418 square feet when the ordinance requires 10,000 square feet.

Kleeman told the board he wanted to split the lot and put an upscale home on each of the new lots. Board member Randy Cox called him out stating Kleeman would be back seeking variances when the homes he was intending would not fit on the lots. Kleeman said ‘no’ he intended to stay within the setbacks and go up.

Two letters of opposition were sent to the BZA and about a half dozen neighbors to the property came before the board expressing concerns over increased traffic, density and the potential for the homes to be used as either short term or seasonal rentals.

The board denied Kleeman’s request. His property is located in Tippecanoe Township.

Kleeman had a similar request for another property he owns in Tippecanoe Township that was also denied. In that case he asked to split a lot and build two homes.

The board approved the following cases:

• A petition by Beth Lightner for a variance to permit the construction of a residence 29.5 feet from the water’s edge. The property is located in Tippecanoe Township.

• A petition by Frank James for a variance to allow a garage to remain as constructed without permits or hearing 6.9 feet rom the south right of way. The property is located in Prairie Township. James will have to get an after the fact permit.

• A petition by Ken Heffner for a variance to permit the construction of a covered deck 28 feet from the western water’s edge and 22.5 feet from the southern water’s edge. The property is located in Plain Township.

• Approved a petition from Adam Owens for the construction of a boathouse. Snyder noted the new boat house will also be set so it does not encroach onto the neighbor’s boat well. The property is in Turkey Creek Township.

• A petition by Russell and Susan Latham to allow a shed to remain 1 foot from the side property line and allow an enclosed carport to remain 9 feet from the right-of-way of the road. The property is in Wayne Township. The petition was approved with an after the fact permit.

• Approved a request by David and Linda McKee to permit a 6 foot tall solid fence to remain in the street yard. The property is located in Jackson Township.

• Approved a request by Robert Juback to permit the construction of a second residence, garage with living quarters, and to allow the property to be located 10 feet from the right of way. The property is located in Turkey Creek Township.

The board denied the following cases:

• A petition by William Rensberger to allow variance for a 2 plot subdivision by allowing 16 feet easement when the ordinance requires 50 feet of platted right-of-way. Rensberger told the board he wanted to build two homes and the 50 foot right-of-way would hinder those plans. The property is located in Tippecanoe Township.

• A petition by Eric and Donna Rodriguez for the change and alteration to a previously granted exception by allowing it to be disconnected from the original property in the petition and connected to another property several miles away. Both properties are in Tippecanoe Township.

• A request by Misty Robinson to permit allowing a deck to remain 1 foot 6 inches from the west property line. The board ordered the deck be cut back to the previous exception of 3 feet 8 inches from the property line. The property is located in Plain Township.

The board noted Adam Pamer did not show up for his hearing after his case was continued for six months. It approved giving him a one month continuance. The property is located in Washington Township.