BZA OKs Warsaw's Lake Village To Get A Face-Lift
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
City attorney Mike Valentine left the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Monday after being advised by acting board president Dan Hampton that Valentine was out of order.
Valentine's departure came in the middle of a motion regarding the second of two requests by Wal-Go Associates regarding changes at Lake Village Shopping Center.
The company received the BZA's approval to erect a 40-foot-tall advertising sign at the entrance of the shopping center. The maximum height is 36 feet in a Commercial-5 zone.
The decision allows the retail stores south of Commerce Drive to advertise their presence on a freestanding sign with space for 14 advertisers at the entrance of the complex.
Ron Hacha of Pizza Hut and Dorothy Snyder of the Party Shop spoke in favor of the proposal.
Hacha related the story of a new marketing executive who frequently travels U.S. 30 between Fort Wayne and Chicago.
"I told her we were just off U.S. 30 in Warsaw," he said. "She couldn't find us until I gave her exact instructions to the front door."
Hacha said he rarely has business from travelers; that most of his customers are local. Pizza Hut has had a store in the shopping center since 1982.
"We're not visible. We have to keep that end of town viable. Two great big, ugly shopping centers are the first thing people see coming from Fort Wayne. Is that what we want for Warsaw?"
Snyder advised the board that the Party Shop has occupied the shopping center since 1989.
"The sign is highly essential," she said. "You know how important this is."
She advised the board she has many out-of-state visitors and has to give directions by counting stop signs instead of indicating a sign at the shopping center entrance.
Considered "B" tenants, Pizza Hut, the Party Shop and other occupants are not allowed signage except on their buildings.
Also approved was an exception to exceed the maximum square footage of signs per zoned lot, after the original motion was modified. Square footage limit is 600 square feet. The entrance sign, with advertising space measuring 12 feet by 28 feet, in addition to the five existing signs on the lot (Kmart, Monroe Muffler, Hardee's, National City Bank and Blockbuster) will exceed the maximum 600 square feet.
BZA member Richard Keeven made a motion that the maximum square footage could go over the limit temporarily, but Wal-Go was to disallow freestanding signs when a new tenant moved in. For example, when an occupant's lease expires, the freestanding sign on that space would be removed.
Ron Escue, representing Wal-Go Associates, explained he could not guarantee the company's acquiescence to that stipulation. He said having a freestanding sign available in a particular space makes the property more attractive to potential companies.
Keeven's motion came after 40 minutes of discussion by the petitioners, public and board members.
At that time, Valentine said, "There is an entire economic unit out there that needs the damn signage. Come on, guys."
Hampton, acting president in Bruce Woodward's absence, banged a gavel and told Valentine he was out of order.
The attorney gathered his papers, collected his satchel and left the room.
"Please note legal counsel is leaving," Hampton said.
Cory Walters, a partner and co-owner of the property, approached the board and said all he could guarantee was that the Blockbuster sign be removed, if Blockbuster ever leaves the shopping center.
He said Kmart has its own national advertising campaign and would probably retain its signage.
On Walters' word, the motion stipulating the removal of freestanding signs was retracted, and a motion to allow the center to exceed maximum square footage was approved.
Wal-Go also plans to "soften" the shopping center entrance with landscaping and by removing the cement "bollards."
In other business, the board:
• Denied a petition by Burkhart Advertising to maintain an off-premise sign on Carl Wendell's property north of U.S. 30.
Off-premise signs advertise a store or products at another location. Currently, these signs are under a moratorium and only signs in place prior to May 21, 2001, are allowed.
The Burkhart sign in question, west of Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, was removed from the Lowe's property in the summer of 2001 prior to the business' construction and placed in its current location.
Because it was removed, the sign is considered "new" and in violation of the moratorium.
The issue will come before the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing officer July 21.
• Approved a request by Mark Snyder to operate a day care center in a R-2 district, at 1623 E. Main St., and to build a 4-foot-high chain link fence on the east property line.
Day care centers require a special exception in an R-2 district. Snyder operates two other day care centers on Glad Street.
The next BZA meeting is July 28 at 7 p.m. Members are Dan Hampton, Alan Clingan, Richard Keeven and Tom Heuer. Trish Brown is the non-voting city council representative. Bruce Woodward was absent. [[In-content Ad]]
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City attorney Mike Valentine left the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Monday after being advised by acting board president Dan Hampton that Valentine was out of order.
Valentine's departure came in the middle of a motion regarding the second of two requests by Wal-Go Associates regarding changes at Lake Village Shopping Center.
The company received the BZA's approval to erect a 40-foot-tall advertising sign at the entrance of the shopping center. The maximum height is 36 feet in a Commercial-5 zone.
The decision allows the retail stores south of Commerce Drive to advertise their presence on a freestanding sign with space for 14 advertisers at the entrance of the complex.
Ron Hacha of Pizza Hut and Dorothy Snyder of the Party Shop spoke in favor of the proposal.
Hacha related the story of a new marketing executive who frequently travels U.S. 30 between Fort Wayne and Chicago.
"I told her we were just off U.S. 30 in Warsaw," he said. "She couldn't find us until I gave her exact instructions to the front door."
Hacha said he rarely has business from travelers; that most of his customers are local. Pizza Hut has had a store in the shopping center since 1982.
"We're not visible. We have to keep that end of town viable. Two great big, ugly shopping centers are the first thing people see coming from Fort Wayne. Is that what we want for Warsaw?"
Snyder advised the board that the Party Shop has occupied the shopping center since 1989.
"The sign is highly essential," she said. "You know how important this is."
She advised the board she has many out-of-state visitors and has to give directions by counting stop signs instead of indicating a sign at the shopping center entrance.
Considered "B" tenants, Pizza Hut, the Party Shop and other occupants are not allowed signage except on their buildings.
Also approved was an exception to exceed the maximum square footage of signs per zoned lot, after the original motion was modified. Square footage limit is 600 square feet. The entrance sign, with advertising space measuring 12 feet by 28 feet, in addition to the five existing signs on the lot (Kmart, Monroe Muffler, Hardee's, National City Bank and Blockbuster) will exceed the maximum 600 square feet.
BZA member Richard Keeven made a motion that the maximum square footage could go over the limit temporarily, but Wal-Go was to disallow freestanding signs when a new tenant moved in. For example, when an occupant's lease expires, the freestanding sign on that space would be removed.
Ron Escue, representing Wal-Go Associates, explained he could not guarantee the company's acquiescence to that stipulation. He said having a freestanding sign available in a particular space makes the property more attractive to potential companies.
Keeven's motion came after 40 minutes of discussion by the petitioners, public and board members.
At that time, Valentine said, "There is an entire economic unit out there that needs the damn signage. Come on, guys."
Hampton, acting president in Bruce Woodward's absence, banged a gavel and told Valentine he was out of order.
The attorney gathered his papers, collected his satchel and left the room.
"Please note legal counsel is leaving," Hampton said.
Cory Walters, a partner and co-owner of the property, approached the board and said all he could guarantee was that the Blockbuster sign be removed, if Blockbuster ever leaves the shopping center.
He said Kmart has its own national advertising campaign and would probably retain its signage.
On Walters' word, the motion stipulating the removal of freestanding signs was retracted, and a motion to allow the center to exceed maximum square footage was approved.
Wal-Go also plans to "soften" the shopping center entrance with landscaping and by removing the cement "bollards."
In other business, the board:
• Denied a petition by Burkhart Advertising to maintain an off-premise sign on Carl Wendell's property north of U.S. 30.
Off-premise signs advertise a store or products at another location. Currently, these signs are under a moratorium and only signs in place prior to May 21, 2001, are allowed.
The Burkhart sign in question, west of Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, was removed from the Lowe's property in the summer of 2001 prior to the business' construction and placed in its current location.
Because it was removed, the sign is considered "new" and in violation of the moratorium.
The issue will come before the Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing officer July 21.
• Approved a request by Mark Snyder to operate a day care center in a R-2 district, at 1623 E. Main St., and to build a 4-foot-high chain link fence on the east property line.
Day care centers require a special exception in an R-2 district. Snyder operates two other day care centers on Glad Street.
The next BZA meeting is July 28 at 7 p.m. Members are Dan Hampton, Alan Clingan, Richard Keeven and Tom Heuer. Trish Brown is the non-voting city council representative. Bruce Woodward was absent. [[In-content Ad]]