SYRACUSE - Arthur's Fresh Market, a new fresh produce market concept by Marsh Supermarkets, is another step closer to coming to Syracuse after Thursday's Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.

The board approved Marsh's petitions for an exception to allow multiple uses in a commercial district and the petition for a variance to allow 104 parking spaces where ordinance requires 192 spaces. The property is on the west side of Huntington Street and zero feet south of Pickwick Drive.

According to Matt Sandy, Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner, the new store will be on three lots - the old hotel, the old laundromat and a grassy lot, all of which will be razed. The town of Syracuse sent a letter supporting the petitions as did the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce.

Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Marsh Supermarkets, said when the petitions were filed in the infancy of the project, Marsh looked at putting in a drive-through car wash, gasoline sales and a grocery store. Now, the business is looking to just put in an Arthur's Fresh Market with only a 5 percent chance of gasoline sales.

Also, Marsh redesigned the site plan, Snyder said, so it may have as many as 123 parking spaces if they go without gasoline sales and 112 spaces if they do end up having gasoline sales.

The intersection of Pickwick Drive and Ind. 13 has a traffic control device so traffic will be handled properly. The visibility to Pickwick Road will be enhanced and all required setbacks by ordinance are met by the placement of the building. Heavier trucks coming and going to the business will be on Sycamore Street. All utilities are available on the site. The surface water plan is not yet designed, but as the project moves forward, the drainage water will be properly collected on the site and drained to a ditch.

Lighting will be state-of-the art and directed into the parking lot.

"We're located in the heart of the commercial district," said Snyder, and "we're hoping it'll stir up more business."

There were no remonstrators to the petition.

The letter from the town says the town supports the petitions, and the 104 parking spaces are "sufficient." While the letter of support from the Chamber of Commerce supports the petitions, the letter states, however, that it does not support gasoline or floral sales at the business.

"I think it's a well thought-out plan," said Syracuse BZA chairman Mike Brower.

There is much semi travel on Sycamore Street "all the time," said BZA member Steve Sharp, so that issue is "no big deal."

Both Brower and Sharp agreed there was no problem with the gasoline or floral sales and did not understand why the chamber would be opposed to that.

The exception was approved with the condition that the trash receptacle be screened and the parking lighting be downward lighting. The variance was approved as presented with the petitioner having the option of building either of the two site plans - one with gasoline sales, one without.

In another matter, the Syracuse BZA continued to the Aug. 21 meeting Larry Stewart's petition for an exception to allow a change to a previous condition from a previous case to allow living space in an accessory building to remain in a residential district. The property is on the south side of Medusa Street and 616 feet east of Front Street in Syracuse.

Sandy told the board that when the plan commission did an inspection of the building in May, the board determined there was a living space in the building when there wasn't supposed to be one. They contacted the petitioners and then Stewart filed the petition.

Brower said Stewart had a previous petition regarding another property with half of that petition being approved, but the violations for the property haven't been resolved. He said he wants to see some cooperation on the other issue before this new petition was heard.

Snyder, also representing Stewart, said that issue is in the court's hands, not the BZA's. If the BZA tries to force the other issue in their favor with this petition, the board will be opening another can of worms.

Jon Brookmyer, BZA member, suggested the board table this issue until the board can consult legal counsel. Brower agreed, saying they need to find out if they are setting any kind of precedence.

Snyder said this petition doesn't affect other projects. However, by delaying the case for 30 days, the problem is that the city is refusing to let Stewart connect the building to sewer because the Syracuse BZA asked the town not to let Stewart connect until the issues are resolved. If the board was going to table the petition until their Aug. 21 meeting, Snyder asked that they tell the town to lift that restriction.

Brower made a motion for the planning staff to instruct Syracuse town manager Brian Redshaw to lift the restriction of Stewart not being able to hook up to city sewer.

Also, the Syracuse BZA:

• Unanimously approved Milestone Real Estate's petition for a variance to allow two more tracts of ground to be created where the subdivision control ordinance allows only three tracts under 20 acres. The property is on the south side of Palm Drive and 400 feet east of Huntington Street in Syracuse.

• Approved Dan Lees' petition for an exception to allow a change and expansion to a previous petition for a bait shop and boat accessories in addition to previously granted uses in a commercial district. The property is on the west side of Huntington Street and 200 feet north of Lynwood in Syracuse.

Members of the Syracuse BZA are Mike Brower, Gus Duehmig, Jon Brookmyer and Steve Sharp. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse town hall on the third Thursday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]