Milford Supports I-3 Rezone
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By John DeGroff-
The land in question was the proposed site for an ethanol refinery last year. The Milford community successfully kept that facility from moving into town. Now, the owner of the land, Harland Beer, would like to see the land used for a proposed industrial park.[[In-content Ad]]Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Northern Lakes Investment Group, was on had at the meeting. He made the initial proposal before the council at the October meeting, when he asked for a letter of support regarding rezoning the land to an I-3 classification.
This letter enables the investment group to then approach the Kosciusko County Plan Commission for a hearing. The plan commission would then send their recommendation on to the county commissioners. The council agreed to provide a letter of support for this stage of the zoning process.
Dan Richard, county plan director, attended the meeting as well to answer questions and concerns of Milford citizens in regard to this project. More than 50 people showed up to express community views.
Milford resident Lisa Glon provided handouts describing the use differences of land zoned I-1, I-2 or I-3. An I3 classification is sought for the acreage, which is directly north of the town limits.
Some of the examples of I-3 zoning provided by Glon were Warsaw businesses such as Inter Motor Freight Terminal, Lewis Salvage and Warsaw Foundry. Normally, such firms would not be included in that classification, but had been grandfathered in.
What Glon and other residents are seeking is an I-2 zoning classification.
Theresa Brito, Milford, expressed concern for the health of her children, who suffer from asthma and other allergies. According to Brito, excessive pollution would force her family to move, providing her home would retain its value and could be sold in the first place.
The fact that Milford residents weren't notified about this proposal being on last month's council meeting agenda was voiced by resident Becky Doll. She said that by not publishing the fact before the meeting, it was unfair to the community as a whole.
Regardless of all discussion, the council upheld its original letter of support. The next meeting of the plan commission will be Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. in Warsaw at the court house.
In other business, the council heard a report from the police department concerning a dog attack that happened last March.
Milford resident Sharon Boatwright was bitten by a dog while on public property. The police are reviewing the procedure needed to have the dog declared a dangerous animal.
According to the town's attorney, the dog's owner will have to provide proof of insurance, muzzle the dog, and post notice of a dangerous animal. This is what is needed for the owner to be in compliance with town ordinances regulating animals.
Utilities Superintendent Dallas Winchester announced leaf pick up will continue until Wednesday. The problem of where to dump collected leaves, as discussed during October's meeting, has been solved.
Winchester also asked the council for approval to allow street department personnel to take the salt truck home during the winter season.
Department employees are assigned to be on-call for this duty on a weekly basis. By having the truck with the assigned worker, the job will be started quicker during bad weather days. The council approved the request.
Repairs on the motor for the town's main pump were approved. Cost is estimated between $7,000 and $8,000. Work on the well will be completed during the next week. Another expenditure approved by the council was $4,715 for a snow plow blade.
The council will be contacting the county highway department to request a guard rail over the culvert on Bear Creek. The need for this has been previously discussed, and since the road in question is Old Ind. 15, it falls under county jurisdiction.
The Milford Town Hall and offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Milford Town Council members are Gary Hurd, Robert Cockburn and Douglas Ruch.
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The land in question was the proposed site for an ethanol refinery last year. The Milford community successfully kept that facility from moving into town. Now, the owner of the land, Harland Beer, would like to see the land used for a proposed industrial park.[[In-content Ad]]Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the Northern Lakes Investment Group, was on had at the meeting. He made the initial proposal before the council at the October meeting, when he asked for a letter of support regarding rezoning the land to an I-3 classification.
This letter enables the investment group to then approach the Kosciusko County Plan Commission for a hearing. The plan commission would then send their recommendation on to the county commissioners. The council agreed to provide a letter of support for this stage of the zoning process.
Dan Richard, county plan director, attended the meeting as well to answer questions and concerns of Milford citizens in regard to this project. More than 50 people showed up to express community views.
Milford resident Lisa Glon provided handouts describing the use differences of land zoned I-1, I-2 or I-3. An I3 classification is sought for the acreage, which is directly north of the town limits.
Some of the examples of I-3 zoning provided by Glon were Warsaw businesses such as Inter Motor Freight Terminal, Lewis Salvage and Warsaw Foundry. Normally, such firms would not be included in that classification, but had been grandfathered in.
What Glon and other residents are seeking is an I-2 zoning classification.
Theresa Brito, Milford, expressed concern for the health of her children, who suffer from asthma and other allergies. According to Brito, excessive pollution would force her family to move, providing her home would retain its value and could be sold in the first place.
The fact that Milford residents weren't notified about this proposal being on last month's council meeting agenda was voiced by resident Becky Doll. She said that by not publishing the fact before the meeting, it was unfair to the community as a whole.
Regardless of all discussion, the council upheld its original letter of support. The next meeting of the plan commission will be Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. in Warsaw at the court house.
In other business, the council heard a report from the police department concerning a dog attack that happened last March.
Milford resident Sharon Boatwright was bitten by a dog while on public property. The police are reviewing the procedure needed to have the dog declared a dangerous animal.
According to the town's attorney, the dog's owner will have to provide proof of insurance, muzzle the dog, and post notice of a dangerous animal. This is what is needed for the owner to be in compliance with town ordinances regulating animals.
Utilities Superintendent Dallas Winchester announced leaf pick up will continue until Wednesday. The problem of where to dump collected leaves, as discussed during October's meeting, has been solved.
Winchester also asked the council for approval to allow street department personnel to take the salt truck home during the winter season.
Department employees are assigned to be on-call for this duty on a weekly basis. By having the truck with the assigned worker, the job will be started quicker during bad weather days. The council approved the request.
Repairs on the motor for the town's main pump were approved. Cost is estimated between $7,000 and $8,000. Work on the well will be completed during the next week. Another expenditure approved by the council was $4,715 for a snow plow blade.
The council will be contacting the county highway department to request a guard rail over the culvert on Bear Creek. The need for this has been previously discussed, and since the road in question is Old Ind. 15, it falls under county jurisdiction.
The Milford Town Hall and offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Milford Town Council members are Gary Hurd, Robert Cockburn and Douglas Ruch.
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