BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer

Ind. 13, from Syracuse to Pierceton, is a growing place for businesses.

Tuesday, another business got the go-ahead to start up along that state road.

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals approved Kevin Bell's petition for an exception to allow a commercial marina (sales, service and storage) of boats and marina products in a commercial district. The property is on the east side of Ind. 13 and 990 feet south of CR 500N in Tippecanoe Township.

According to attorney Steve Snyder, who represented Bell, the marina is starting from scratch on a 9.5-acre tract of ground. The south part of the property is an area set aside for drainage retention. Approximately 3,500 square feet will be for a display area of new boats. There are no plans, Snyder said, for the storage of boats on the property during the off season. Occasionally, boats that need to be serviced or picked up will be parked in the back of the property but should not be seen from the road.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will require a certain type of curb cut for the commercial business onto the property, Snyder said.

The marina use of the property, he said, is "extremely compatible" with the area. Someday the entire stretch of Ind. 13 from Syracuse to Pierceton will be commercial, he said.

There were no remonstrators.

In other business, the zoning board:

• Denied Edd Allen's petition for a variance to permit a fourth division of a tract of ground where the subdivision control ordinance allows only three. The property is on the south side of CR 1250N and zero feet east of East Wawasee Drive in Turkey Creek Township.

According to Snyder, appearing on behalf of Allen, before Allen purchased the property, he checked with county officials to see if a further division of the property could be made. The county officials allegedly said one more division was possible and Allen paid approximately $31,000 for the piece of property. However, when Allen went back for his permits, the county officials said another division was not permitted. Had Allen known another split was not possible, Snyder said, he never would have bought the property.

There were no remonstrators to the further split of the property.

• Approved Pat Morgan's petition for a variance to allow the construction of a enclosed carport 3 feet, 1 inch from the property line and 14 feet, 9 inches from the road right of way. The property is on the north side of EMS T30B Lane and 307 feet east of EMS T30 Lane in Plain Township.

In addition, because the carport originally was built in violation, the BZA approved a settlement with Morgan for $2,500. Morgan can accept and pay the settlement or deny the settlement, in which case the BZA will take him to court for the fine.

• Continued to the April meeting Cynthia Heckaman's petition for an exception to change a granted home occupation to a home-based business to allow outside display and change the hours of the business in an agricultural district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and 935 feet south of CR 800N in Tippecanoe Township.

• Approved by a vote of three to two Kyle Young's petition for a variance to allow a shed 1 foot, 9 inches from a south property line and 16 feet, 5 inches from a road right of way. The property is on the east side of EMS D25A Lane and 530 feet south of EMS D25 Lane in Van Buren Township.

• Approved Mike Jones' petition for a variance to permit the construction of a carport, decking and awnings 5 feet from the south right of way, 5 feet from the west right of way and 18.5 feet from the water's edge. The property is on the east side of Short Street and zero feet north of Madison Street in Tippecanoe Township.

• Denied Elmer Williams' petition for a variance to permit the construction of a garage 20 feet from the road right of way and 5 feet from the north property line. The property is on the east side of Lakeshore Drive and 50 feet east of Wood Duck Drive in Seward Township.

• Continued to February John Wade's petition for a variance to build a residence 23 feet from the Pierceton Road right of way. The property is on the east side of Cherry Creek Lane and zero feet south of Pierceton Road in Wayne Township.

Members of the BZA are Vic Virgil, Charlie Haffner, Bob Beer, Walter Church and Ron Sharp. They meet at 8:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]