Area Plan Commission Recommends Rezoning Former Church
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission decided to give a favorable recommendation to the Syracuse Town Council on a property at 605 N. Harrison St. to be rezoned from public use to commercial.
Steven and Jacquie Giles, Syracuse, are in the process of buying the building, which is formerly Syracuse Pentecostal Church.
The Giles said they planned on turning the building into a salon with up to 10 employees.
Syracuse resident Sam Timmons said he was concerned about added traffic to the area.
“With all the other empty properties in this town, why do they have to have this one?” asked Timmons.
Timmons also said he didn’t mind a salon coming in but worried if that business failed what might come in after.
“This will lower property values,” said Timmons.
Lorraine Callahan said he agreed with Timmons.
“I don’t want a bar going in there,” said Callahan. “I would have a real problem if the beauty shop didn’t take off.”
Jacquie Giles said she’s already addressed the traffic issue and would tell customers to come off Ind. 13 to avoid driving through the neighborhood.
Another concern levied by Timmons and Callahan was parking. The church comes with a parking lot.
Area Plan Director Dan Richard said a problem is that the building has been vacant for years. The building has been on the market for more than 780 days.
After some delay, new board member Mandy Espinoza made a motion to give a favorable recommendation to the Syracuse Town Council.
Espinoza represents the town of Pierceton.
Board member Keith Hardy seconded the motion.
The motion passed 6-0 with two abstentions. Espinoza, Hardy, James Moyer, Charlie Haffner, Bob Conley and Kevin McSherry voted in favor while Larry Coplen and County Surveyor Dick Kemper abstained.
The Syracuse Town Council will discuss the matter at its March 20 meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Arron Stavedahl’s request to vacate a portion of undeveloped road off his property on Swick Road, Claypool, was given a favorable recommendation.
The property is on the south side of Beaver Dam Lake.
The recommendation was passed 8-0.
Board member Dr. Lee Harman was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
The recommendation will go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners March 27 at 9:15 a.m.
The plan department received approval to go to the county council to ask for funds to purchase software, which would allow for more than 60,000 documents in the county to be scanned.
The Area Plan Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month in the old courtroom at the Kosciusko County Courthouse at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission decided to give a favorable recommendation to the Syracuse Town Council on a property at 605 N. Harrison St. to be rezoned from public use to commercial.
Steven and Jacquie Giles, Syracuse, are in the process of buying the building, which is formerly Syracuse Pentecostal Church.
The Giles said they planned on turning the building into a salon with up to 10 employees.
Syracuse resident Sam Timmons said he was concerned about added traffic to the area.
“With all the other empty properties in this town, why do they have to have this one?” asked Timmons.
Timmons also said he didn’t mind a salon coming in but worried if that business failed what might come in after.
“This will lower property values,” said Timmons.
Lorraine Callahan said he agreed with Timmons.
“I don’t want a bar going in there,” said Callahan. “I would have a real problem if the beauty shop didn’t take off.”
Jacquie Giles said she’s already addressed the traffic issue and would tell customers to come off Ind. 13 to avoid driving through the neighborhood.
Another concern levied by Timmons and Callahan was parking. The church comes with a parking lot.
Area Plan Director Dan Richard said a problem is that the building has been vacant for years. The building has been on the market for more than 780 days.
After some delay, new board member Mandy Espinoza made a motion to give a favorable recommendation to the Syracuse Town Council.
Espinoza represents the town of Pierceton.
Board member Keith Hardy seconded the motion.
The motion passed 6-0 with two abstentions. Espinoza, Hardy, James Moyer, Charlie Haffner, Bob Conley and Kevin McSherry voted in favor while Larry Coplen and County Surveyor Dick Kemper abstained.
The Syracuse Town Council will discuss the matter at its March 20 meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Arron Stavedahl’s request to vacate a portion of undeveloped road off his property on Swick Road, Claypool, was given a favorable recommendation.
The property is on the south side of Beaver Dam Lake.
The recommendation was passed 8-0.
Board member Dr. Lee Harman was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
The recommendation will go before the Kosciusko County Commissioners March 27 at 9:15 a.m.
The plan department received approval to go to the county council to ask for funds to purchase software, which would allow for more than 60,000 documents in the county to be scanned.
The Area Plan Commission meets the first Wednesday of every month in the old courtroom at the Kosciusko County Courthouse at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092