Milford Food Bank President Joe Shetler, left, addressed the APC at its meeting Wednesday, Feb. 7. Seated is Andy Heltzel, assistant planner. The APC approved a rezoning for the food bank. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A warehouse for a food bank was given a favorable recommendation at the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Milford Food Bank’s petition to rezone ground from a residential district to a commercial district was approved.

The property is located on the south side of Emeline Street, west of James Street in Milford.

A vacant house is situated across from the food bank. The house will be torn down soon and the food bank wants to build a warehouse on the property, said the food bank’s president, Joe Shetler. The food bank has been using the warehouse at The Papers Inc. The new warehouse will have a coolers and freezers.

Alvin and Carol Haab have donated the property to the food bank.

Shetler said the food bank provides food to food pantries in several counties including Elkhart, Noble and Kosciusko.

“We serve 40,000 to 50,000 people a week and 3.6 million pounds of food,” Shelter noted, adding 124 pantries use the food bank as its food source.

“Commercial use is a better fit,” said Matt Sandy, APC director.

There were no remonstrators. The case will go before the Milford Town Council at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12.

Ronald Casebeer’s petition for preliminary plat approval for an agricultural II subdivision was approved.

The property is located on the east side of CR 875 West and south of CR 200 North in Etna Township.

Kevin Shepherd’s petition to rezone ground from an industrial II district to a commercial district was given a favorable recommendation by the APC board.

The property is located on the east side of First Street and 817 feet north of CR 725 East in Washington Township.

Mary Lou Shepherd, his mother, said a beauty shop will use the property and possibly a bakery and U-Haul facility.

“It is a big plus for Pierceton,” said Mary Lou of the new businesses.

The case will now go before the Pierceton Town Council at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12.

Wacky 2 Premier Properties’ petition to rezone ground from a public use district to a residential district was approved.

The property is located on the west side of EMS T52 Lane, north of EMS T51C Lane in Tippecanoe Township.

There was one letter from a remonstrator; however, the case was given a favorable recommendation. The matter will be heard by county commissioners at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Gregory Smith’s petition to rezone 13.358 acres from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district was given a favorable recommendation.

The property is located on the south side of Epworth Forest Road, west of County Road 950 East in North Webster.

Smith wants to build a two-lot subdivision. His case will next go before county commissioners at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.

APC board member Mike Kissinger said “whatever goes in there will be nice.”

Barrett McManus final plat was approved. His property is located at Deeds Creek Manor in Warsaw.

Sandy said he has two candidates for the APC board — one from Etna Green and one from Pierceton. He hopes to have a new board member by March’s APC meeting. Seven towns in the county will vote for the next board member.

The next meeting is at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 6.