Commissioners Fail To Decide Rezoning Request
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Unable to make a decision Tuesday, county commissioners Brad Jackson and Ron Truex sent a rezoning petition back to the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission for further consideration.
Commissioner Avis Gunter was not present at Tuesday's meeting.
Despite the fact the plan commission already unanimously recommended the county commissioners deny the petition, the plan commission will take up the rezoning matter again at their meeting Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse.
Doyle and Elaine Munson petitioned the commissioners to rezone 97 acres from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district. The property is on the east side of Packerton Road, north and south of CR 375S in Wayne Township.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Munsons, said there's a high concentration of residential development to the north of the property and residential development is going to grow in the area.
"It's going to happen and it's happening faster than people expect," Snyder said.
As Kosciusko County is one of the top 10 growing counties in the state, he said, if the county is going to control residential development, it will have to be done on large tracts such as the Munsons', not small tracts.
"Wayne Township is the most highly developed residential area," he said. As for it being agricultural land, he said, if it is going to come out of production anyway, it might as well be put to the best possible use. As Ag II, the county can control how it is developed, but can't otherwise if it is sold into 20-acre tracts.
The residential development for the property will have 65 lots fronting interior roads, will have enhanced drainage and will be under complete control of the plan commission's subdivision control ordinances.
While only one person spoke against the petition, several spoke in favor of it.
Dennis Lundgren said he believes the government has too much control on what people do with their private property. He said other locations in the area already have been developed and he saw the Munsons' development as a good thing.
David McCleary said his family approves of the 97 acres being rezoned.
"In my opinion," McCleary said, "being too far out (from the nearest development) and taking farmland out of production are not valid."
The only remonstrator against the petition said he was concerned about traffic and didn't want to live across from a subdivision.
Truex said with 65 houses, he didn't think the property fits the Ag II criteria of low density housing. Snyder said low density housing means one home per acre and high density is three homes per acre. Ag II, he said, is for residential development in an agricultural area.
"I can sit down and rationalize either way," Jackson said. He said he didn't want to reverse the plan commission's recommendation but he still had concerns about their decision.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson to write a letter to the city of Warsaw saying the county is willing to relinquish the Gatke property, north of Winona Avenue, Warsaw. The city plans to try to get brownfield funds to clean up the property.
• Approved approximately $17,200 for resealing and repairing the tunnel between the county courthouse and the Justice Building. "There's no doubt it needs to be done," said Robinson.
• Approved approximately $11,000 for a new tractor, snowblower and brush for the county courthouse and Justice Building property. One of the two tractors currently used for mowing and snowblowing will be sent to the work release center to be used there.
• Approved for Project Safe Energy Assistance Program to use a room in the courthouse basement for temporary offices beginning Nov. 5.
• Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said The Troyer Group, who is conducting the corridor study for the Western Route Project, wants the county to form a steering committee for the project, with members from local business and the public. Ladson said he will get a list of candidates to the commissioners before the next meeting and the commissioners can then select the committee.
• Approved a yield sign at the southeast corner of EMS W29 off Backwater Road and EMS W29B.
• Approved the intersection of CRs 650E and 300N as a multi-way stop.
• Approved a mutual agreement between Ladson and the county for computer programs designed by Ladson that speed up the county's bookkeeping process.
Robinson said the programs "make our government better" and Ladson put the programs together during his own time. He said Ladson, however, does need to be compensated for his time and work.
"He's really pioneering something that's not out there in the open market at this time," said Robinson.
• Tabled for 90 days a petition by Danny and Rebecca Conkling to vacate a portion of a walkway next to lot 11 on Backwater Lake. Due to opposition, the commissioners want to allow time for remonstrating residents and the Conklings to possibly come to an agreement regarding the walkway. [[In-content Ad]]
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Unable to make a decision Tuesday, county commissioners Brad Jackson and Ron Truex sent a rezoning petition back to the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission for further consideration.
Commissioner Avis Gunter was not present at Tuesday's meeting.
Despite the fact the plan commission already unanimously recommended the county commissioners deny the petition, the plan commission will take up the rezoning matter again at their meeting Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse.
Doyle and Elaine Munson petitioned the commissioners to rezone 97 acres from an agricultural district to an agricultural II district. The property is on the east side of Packerton Road, north and south of CR 375S in Wayne Township.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Munsons, said there's a high concentration of residential development to the north of the property and residential development is going to grow in the area.
"It's going to happen and it's happening faster than people expect," Snyder said.
As Kosciusko County is one of the top 10 growing counties in the state, he said, if the county is going to control residential development, it will have to be done on large tracts such as the Munsons', not small tracts.
"Wayne Township is the most highly developed residential area," he said. As for it being agricultural land, he said, if it is going to come out of production anyway, it might as well be put to the best possible use. As Ag II, the county can control how it is developed, but can't otherwise if it is sold into 20-acre tracts.
The residential development for the property will have 65 lots fronting interior roads, will have enhanced drainage and will be under complete control of the plan commission's subdivision control ordinances.
While only one person spoke against the petition, several spoke in favor of it.
Dennis Lundgren said he believes the government has too much control on what people do with their private property. He said other locations in the area already have been developed and he saw the Munsons' development as a good thing.
David McCleary said his family approves of the 97 acres being rezoned.
"In my opinion," McCleary said, "being too far out (from the nearest development) and taking farmland out of production are not valid."
The only remonstrator against the petition said he was concerned about traffic and didn't want to live across from a subdivision.
Truex said with 65 houses, he didn't think the property fits the Ag II criteria of low density housing. Snyder said low density housing means one home per acre and high density is three homes per acre. Ag II, he said, is for residential development in an agricultural area.
"I can sit down and rationalize either way," Jackson said. He said he didn't want to reverse the plan commission's recommendation but he still had concerns about their decision.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson to write a letter to the city of Warsaw saying the county is willing to relinquish the Gatke property, north of Winona Avenue, Warsaw. The city plans to try to get brownfield funds to clean up the property.
• Approved approximately $17,200 for resealing and repairing the tunnel between the county courthouse and the Justice Building. "There's no doubt it needs to be done," said Robinson.
• Approved approximately $11,000 for a new tractor, snowblower and brush for the county courthouse and Justice Building property. One of the two tractors currently used for mowing and snowblowing will be sent to the work release center to be used there.
• Approved for Project Safe Energy Assistance Program to use a room in the courthouse basement for temporary offices beginning Nov. 5.
• Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said The Troyer Group, who is conducting the corridor study for the Western Route Project, wants the county to form a steering committee for the project, with members from local business and the public. Ladson said he will get a list of candidates to the commissioners before the next meeting and the commissioners can then select the committee.
• Approved a yield sign at the southeast corner of EMS W29 off Backwater Road and EMS W29B.
• Approved the intersection of CRs 650E and 300N as a multi-way stop.
• Approved a mutual agreement between Ladson and the county for computer programs designed by Ladson that speed up the county's bookkeeping process.
Robinson said the programs "make our government better" and Ladson put the programs together during his own time. He said Ladson, however, does need to be compensated for his time and work.
"He's really pioneering something that's not out there in the open market at this time," said Robinson.
• Tabled for 90 days a petition by Danny and Rebecca Conkling to vacate a portion of a walkway next to lot 11 on Backwater Lake. Due to opposition, the commissioners want to allow time for remonstrating residents and the Conklings to possibly come to an agreement regarding the walkway. [[In-content Ad]]