NW Council Denies Approval Of Duplexes In Commercial District
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Jeff Hamman's request to construct two duplex units in a commercial district was met with opposition from business owners Wednesday at the North Webster Town Council meeting.
Hamman owns property behind the fire station, where he maintains one storage building. He already has approval from the Area Plan Commission to build another storage facility there.
Instead of a commercial building, the owner of J.C. Hamman Construction thought the rental units would work.
Steve and Carole Shelby, owners of Golden Mermaid Gifts; Karen Kann, who operates Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall; and Clint and Linda Olson of Olson's Casual Furnishings disagreed.
"Our business is dependent on tourism," Carole Shelby said. "Our goal is to increase tourism. We need commercial businesses in commercial zones."
Shelby talked about the community-wide charrette conducted by Ball State University two years ago and the Chamber of Commerce's ongoing programs to support businesses and enhance the look of the downtown area.
Linda Olson pointed out that there is a lot of daily traffic in the form of semi-tractors making deliveries and fire department personnel attending meetings and responding to emergencies in the alley behind the shops.
"Who," she asked, "wants to live there and look at our dumpsters? Who is attracted to that? Who wants to live somewhere with a fire alarm going off?"
The business owners were concerned about their property values and about the safety of children who might move into the duplexes.
Clint Olsen said his son was "inches away from being nailed" by a fireman arriving at the fire station just the other day.
Hamman was asked if he would consider building another storage unit, and he said yes. An office building and small hotel also were suggested for the site.
Council president Kay Andrews advised Hamman that, obviously, the people in attendance were not in favor of the duplexes.
"I foresee a remonstrance if you take this to the Area Plan Commission," she said.
Andrews said Hamman builds and remodels beautiful homes and his skill wasn't in question - just the request to put a residential building in a commercial zone.
Two representatives from Severn-Trent appeared at the meeting to discuss providing public works services to the town.
A contract has been drawn to define the scope of the services and transfer of employment of the town's street, park and wastewater treatment plant and collection workers.
Town employees will become Severn Trent employees July 1, following a June 28 public hearing, set for noon.
Severn Trent project manager Tom Miller will temporarily be in charge of day-to-day operations for the street, wastewater and park departments.
The company will assume sewer collections and ensure regulatory compliance at the treatment plant, essentially managing the town's assets.
The public works departments in Syracuse and Winona Lake are also under Severn-Trent management.
In other business, the board:
Approved a Scearce Rudisel Architects design for a public pier at the park. The design is under review by the Department of Natural Resources.
The pier is expected to be built after Labor Day and to be located on the south side of Lakeview Restaurant.
The 5-foot-wide pier will extend over Webster Lake 60 feet and end with an 10- by 18-foot platform.
• Approved a 12-year contract with MediaCom to provide cable television service to residents.
• Heard that a dredging permit has been received for the ditch in the Eckert addition. Dredging should begin at the end of July.
• Heard from Kosciusko Development Inc. president Joy McCarthy-Sessing, who approached the board for an $850 donation for KDI's 2003 operating budget.
Town council members are Kay Andrews, Ken Wagoner and Jeff Morgan. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - Jeff Hamman's request to construct two duplex units in a commercial district was met with opposition from business owners Wednesday at the North Webster Town Council meeting.
Hamman owns property behind the fire station, where he maintains one storage building. He already has approval from the Area Plan Commission to build another storage facility there.
Instead of a commercial building, the owner of J.C. Hamman Construction thought the rental units would work.
Steve and Carole Shelby, owners of Golden Mermaid Gifts; Karen Kann, who operates Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall; and Clint and Linda Olson of Olson's Casual Furnishings disagreed.
"Our business is dependent on tourism," Carole Shelby said. "Our goal is to increase tourism. We need commercial businesses in commercial zones."
Shelby talked about the community-wide charrette conducted by Ball State University two years ago and the Chamber of Commerce's ongoing programs to support businesses and enhance the look of the downtown area.
Linda Olson pointed out that there is a lot of daily traffic in the form of semi-tractors making deliveries and fire department personnel attending meetings and responding to emergencies in the alley behind the shops.
"Who," she asked, "wants to live there and look at our dumpsters? Who is attracted to that? Who wants to live somewhere with a fire alarm going off?"
The business owners were concerned about their property values and about the safety of children who might move into the duplexes.
Clint Olsen said his son was "inches away from being nailed" by a fireman arriving at the fire station just the other day.
Hamman was asked if he would consider building another storage unit, and he said yes. An office building and small hotel also were suggested for the site.
Council president Kay Andrews advised Hamman that, obviously, the people in attendance were not in favor of the duplexes.
"I foresee a remonstrance if you take this to the Area Plan Commission," she said.
Andrews said Hamman builds and remodels beautiful homes and his skill wasn't in question - just the request to put a residential building in a commercial zone.
Two representatives from Severn-Trent appeared at the meeting to discuss providing public works services to the town.
A contract has been drawn to define the scope of the services and transfer of employment of the town's street, park and wastewater treatment plant and collection workers.
Town employees will become Severn Trent employees July 1, following a June 28 public hearing, set for noon.
Severn Trent project manager Tom Miller will temporarily be in charge of day-to-day operations for the street, wastewater and park departments.
The company will assume sewer collections and ensure regulatory compliance at the treatment plant, essentially managing the town's assets.
The public works departments in Syracuse and Winona Lake are also under Severn-Trent management.
In other business, the board:
Approved a Scearce Rudisel Architects design for a public pier at the park. The design is under review by the Department of Natural Resources.
The pier is expected to be built after Labor Day and to be located on the south side of Lakeview Restaurant.
The 5-foot-wide pier will extend over Webster Lake 60 feet and end with an 10- by 18-foot platform.
• Approved a 12-year contract with MediaCom to provide cable television service to residents.
• Heard that a dredging permit has been received for the ditch in the Eckert addition. Dredging should begin at the end of July.
• Heard from Kosciusko Development Inc. president Joy McCarthy-Sessing, who approached the board for an $850 donation for KDI's 2003 operating budget.
Town council members are Kay Andrews, Ken Wagoner and Jeff Morgan. [[In-content Ad]]