County Planners OK Milford Rezoning
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved a request from landowner Harlan Beer for the rezoning of the land on the north side of CR 1300N just east of Old 15 in Van Buren Township Wednesday. The nod from the plan commission sends the request to the Kosciusko County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation to approve.[[In-content Ad]]The plan commission approved their recommendation in front of more than 40 area residents who attended the hearing to oppose the request.
This is the third time in the past two years Beer's land has been the focus of controversy. In 2006, an attempt to build an ethanol plant on the site was defeated after public outcry. In December, the county commissioners denied Beer's request to rezone all of the land Industrial-III for heavy industrial use. At that meeting, the commissioners expressed that they would be open to consider a mixed zoning scheme for the land, which provides a buffer between heavy industrial development and nearby residences.
Wednesday, several area residents spoke against Beer's request to zone 175 acres of the land I-III and 50 acres near residences I-II for moderate industrial use.
Tina Fraley owns a home near Beer's land. Fraley said the rezoning would not conform with the county's zoning ordinance for the overlay district which the land lies within.
"Please keep in mind that the ordinance has more than one objective," said Fraley. "Its purpose goes beyond establishing businesses. The rezoning as proposed in this application does not balance the needs of both the developers and the residents. The very large-scale and I-III classification will not allow for that balance."
Fraley said, besides issues of air quality, she was concerned with the effect industrial development on the site could have on drainage and traffic conditions in the area.
Nancy Clouse, a Milford business owner and resident, said she was concerned about the environmental effects heavy industrial development on Beer's land could have on the entire Milford area.
"We're fearful of the I-III and a little wary of the I-II," Clouse said. "We want our air to stay clean and our water to stay clean."
Area resident Bill Appenzeller said he was concerned that the plan commission was making a decision without any definite plans on how the land will be developed. Appenzeller said within I-III and I-II zoning there may be acceptable and unacceptable developments.
"I don't know how any decision can be made without the ins and outs of what's going on," Appenzeller said.
Milford Town Council President Bob Cockburn also weighed in with a letter to the plan commission. In the letter, Cockburn wrote that he was concerned about the proximity of the requested I-III zone to residential areas to the south and west of the proposed rezoning, and that the town council would not consider supporting Beer's latest request until Beer made a presentation to the council to explain and clarify his plans at an open meeting.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Beer, said he would not bring the matter before the Milford council again. He said at a Nov. 15 meeting, the council approved of Beer's original request to rezone all the land I-III. Beer's land does not lie within the Milford town limits.
"Until the town of Milford annexes the property," said Snyder, "they have no say."
Milford Councilman Doug Ruch told the plan commission he personally supports Beer's request.
"This would mean that our community would have money in our economy from the jobs produced," Ruch said.
Plan commission members were not united on the decision to recommend approval of the rezoning.
Charles Haffner said the board should wait to get more public input.
"We have no call to rush into a decision on this," Haffner said. "We've got 50 people here against and one in support."
Kevin McSherry disagreed.
"I think we ought to vote on this as it is today," McSherry said. "It may be an unpleasant atmosphere in the I-III from time to time, but right now we don't know that."
The plan commission voted 6-2 to approve Beer's request. Haffner and Bob Conley voted against the request, and Larry Coplen did not attend the meeting. The County Commissioners will hear Beer's request Feb. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the Old Courtroom.
Latest News
E-Editions
The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved a request from landowner Harlan Beer for the rezoning of the land on the north side of CR 1300N just east of Old 15 in Van Buren Township Wednesday. The nod from the plan commission sends the request to the Kosciusko County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation to approve.[[In-content Ad]]The plan commission approved their recommendation in front of more than 40 area residents who attended the hearing to oppose the request.
This is the third time in the past two years Beer's land has been the focus of controversy. In 2006, an attempt to build an ethanol plant on the site was defeated after public outcry. In December, the county commissioners denied Beer's request to rezone all of the land Industrial-III for heavy industrial use. At that meeting, the commissioners expressed that they would be open to consider a mixed zoning scheme for the land, which provides a buffer between heavy industrial development and nearby residences.
Wednesday, several area residents spoke against Beer's request to zone 175 acres of the land I-III and 50 acres near residences I-II for moderate industrial use.
Tina Fraley owns a home near Beer's land. Fraley said the rezoning would not conform with the county's zoning ordinance for the overlay district which the land lies within.
"Please keep in mind that the ordinance has more than one objective," said Fraley. "Its purpose goes beyond establishing businesses. The rezoning as proposed in this application does not balance the needs of both the developers and the residents. The very large-scale and I-III classification will not allow for that balance."
Fraley said, besides issues of air quality, she was concerned with the effect industrial development on the site could have on drainage and traffic conditions in the area.
Nancy Clouse, a Milford business owner and resident, said she was concerned about the environmental effects heavy industrial development on Beer's land could have on the entire Milford area.
"We're fearful of the I-III and a little wary of the I-II," Clouse said. "We want our air to stay clean and our water to stay clean."
Area resident Bill Appenzeller said he was concerned that the plan commission was making a decision without any definite plans on how the land will be developed. Appenzeller said within I-III and I-II zoning there may be acceptable and unacceptable developments.
"I don't know how any decision can be made without the ins and outs of what's going on," Appenzeller said.
Milford Town Council President Bob Cockburn also weighed in with a letter to the plan commission. In the letter, Cockburn wrote that he was concerned about the proximity of the requested I-III zone to residential areas to the south and west of the proposed rezoning, and that the town council would not consider supporting Beer's latest request until Beer made a presentation to the council to explain and clarify his plans at an open meeting.
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Beer, said he would not bring the matter before the Milford council again. He said at a Nov. 15 meeting, the council approved of Beer's original request to rezone all the land I-III. Beer's land does not lie within the Milford town limits.
"Until the town of Milford annexes the property," said Snyder, "they have no say."
Milford Councilman Doug Ruch told the plan commission he personally supports Beer's request.
"This would mean that our community would have money in our economy from the jobs produced," Ruch said.
Plan commission members were not united on the decision to recommend approval of the rezoning.
Charles Haffner said the board should wait to get more public input.
"We have no call to rush into a decision on this," Haffner said. "We've got 50 people here against and one in support."
Kevin McSherry disagreed.
"I think we ought to vote on this as it is today," McSherry said. "It may be an unpleasant atmosphere in the I-III from time to time, but right now we don't know that."
The plan commission voted 6-2 to approve Beer's request. Haffner and Bob Conley voted against the request, and Larry Coplen did not attend the meeting. The County Commissioners will hear Beer's request Feb. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the Old Courtroom.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092