Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals has approved allowing a dog breeding operation to continue to be in an agricultural district near Atwood.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the BZA gave Brian and Ashlee Ryman an exception for the operation located at 1347 N. CR 750W, Warsaw, known as Posh Puppies of Indiana.
Attorney Steve Snyder represented the Rymans before the board.
The operation has three kennels on it: one for breeding, one for older dogs to be in and one for people to pick up puppies.
Snyder noted the Rymans were addressing several violations at the business related to storage containers and semitrailers.
"Obviously the owners didn't know they were in violation with what they were using," he said.
Snyder noted the operation was "a professional breeding facility," which was started in 2005 at that location by Brian's father. He added it was "a state-licensed facility approved in all respects by the state Board of Animal Health."
"There are very professional protocols that are followed at any time that someone is picking up a puppy from the facility," said Snyder. "There are always handlers on site ... There are people on this site 24/7."
"They have a rather large staff that assists in taking care of the puppies, feeding the puppies," he said.
He added neighbors are OK with the business, mentioning there were a number of letters of support.
"Steps have been taken to make sure the noise is kept to a minimum of any," said Snyder.
He also provided a letter from the LaGrange Veterinary Clinic showing that the clinic was in charge of providing care for the dogs.
Board Chairman Lee Harman noted the matter had been brought before the BZA due to a complaint. Kosciusko County Area Plan Director Matt Sandy said someone had complained the kennel didn't have permits.
The board unanimously approved the Rymans' request.
At the meeting, the board also:
• Continued a case brought by Phillip Harshman to its next meeting starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 14, in the basement of the Kosciusko County Justice Building, as he still needs to get a proper survey done. He's asking for a variance to allow a residence to be as placed 5 feet from the westerly line, 7 feet from the easterly line and 33.83 feet from the right-of-way of the road at 7735 Camabraw Park Lane, Akron.
• Approved a variance brought by Timothy and Robin Sweeny to allow a 10-foot by 12-foot shed at 2947 E. 450N, Warsaw, to stay 2.9 feet from the rear property line with the overhang.
• Continued a case brought by Norma Miller until its Jan. 14 meeting. She wants a variance for her 7.25-foot by 7.25-foot shed that the previous owner put in at 213 Heide Lane, Milford, to stay 1 foot from the side property line. The board continued it as the subdivision the property is in has had numerous zoning violations and it wishes to hear back from the Milford Town Council on the issue.
• Approved a variance brought by Barbara Van Duyn for a shed at 30 EMS C27C1 Lane, Warsaw, to stay 3 feet from the road right of way and zero feet from the side property line. She just has to add drainage measures to it that don't affect the neighboring property.
• Approved two variance requests brought by Scott Beam for property at 60 EMS W29B Lane, North Webster. The board allowed him having a second home in a detached garage as long as he gets a permit and the building isn't sold apart from the main property. It also allowed an awning on the building to be 4.3 feet from the road right-of-way and a second story to be .73 feet from the side property line.
• Continued a case brought by Beam for the same above property to its Jan. 14 meeting due to wanting engineering information on removing or modifying a west wall. He wants to get a variance to reconstruct a deck and lower enclosure 12 inches from the west property line and 15 feet from the water's edge.
• Approved a variance request brought by Thomas and Joan Anderson to allow steps more than 5 feet wide to remain at 4160 E. Forest Glen Ave., Leesburg. The Andersons must pay a permit fee. The board also plans to seek a $500 settlement from the Andersons' contractor for doing the work without a permit.
• Approved a variance request brought by Jeffrey Hepler to allow a second residence to be put on a tract of ground at 8223 W. 1100N, Nappanee, with the stipulation that the two homes not be sold separately from each other in the future.
• Approved a variance request brought by Aaron and Ann Vermilion to build a new residence 11.6 feet from the road right of way at 83 EMS B48 Lane, Warsaw.