Traffic Concerns Halt Petitions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Concerns about traffic kept two petitions before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission from being approved.
James Evans petitioned to rezone 40.71 acres from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the north side of CR 1000N and approximately 500 to 600 feet east of Ind. 13. The petition was denied by a vote of 5 to 2.
The property is a unique piece of real estate, attorney Steve Snyder said on Evans' behalf, and there is residential, commercial and agricultural property in the area. The property fronts only on CR 1000N.
Since Wawasee Middle School is in that area, there is also sanitary sewer available. Snyder said the area is an obvious place to put a subdivision since the sewer is available.
The proposed development of approximately 76 lots would have all interior driveways. Entrance to the subdivision will have good visibility both ways on CR 1000N for 500 feet, Snyder said.
Bill Dixon owns property adjacent to the property Evans seeks to rezone. He said one of his biggest concerns is traffic.
"Safety is a big issue," he said. "Safety is the main issue." Adding 76 lots to the area would add significant traffic on the road. He also said the property is good for agriculture because he used to own it.
Wawasee Conservation District coordinator Heather Harwood said she is concerned about erosion control problems the new subdivision would create in the area.
Another remonstrator said he is concerned about traffic, too. He said no sidewalks are in the area and there is a lot of school traffic.
He said, "I don't think you'd be doing a favor to any parent who has school children out there."
To all the remonstrators, Snyder replied, "It never ceases to amaze me that if the objections to growth would be followed, there would be no (growth in this county)." He said the property is a good place for growth to occur.
Since the Wawasee Middle School is across the street from the property, he said, that changes the definition of the best use for the property.
Regarding traffic, Snyder said, there is no excuse to turn down a proper development because the county's citizens refuse to obey traffic laws. The road has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour, but people often drive at a much higher speed on the road, he said.
If there are concerns about traffic and students on the road there, Snyder said, the county ought to help because they, as well as the school corporation, collect taxes from the property owners there.
Plan Commission member Charlie Haffner said the problems with this property are self-imposed. He said they are trying to cram 76 lots in there and that land is a very difficult property to properly drain.
"I still don't believe it's a good place for a residential subdivision," plan commission member Don Ahrms said, despite its nearness sanitary sewer.
Hal Strong, plan commission member, said he agrees with Snyder that the county should enforce the speed limit and that the area will be all residential eventually. However, 76 lots would create too much traffic, he said.
Richard L. Gilbert petitioned to rezone ground from an agricultural to an industrial II district. The property is on the east side of Kyle Road and 1,320 feet south of CR 250N in Tippecanoe Township. The petition was unanimously denied.
Gilbert wants to expand his home-based business, in which he buries metal and wire cables for utility companies.
Remonstrators said they were concerned about traffic on Kyle Road and noise created by the growing business.
"We believe his business belongs in an industrial park," said one remonstrator.
In other business, the Plan Commission:
• Approved Dennis and Pam Polk's petition to rezone 8.1 acres from an environmental to an agricultural district. The property is 1,350 feet east of Harper Road and 1,470 feet south of CR 700N in Plain Township.
• Approved Roger Buss' petition to rezone 42 acres from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the east side of Ind. 19 and 1,700 feet north of CR 1350N in Jefferson Township. The property will be annexed by the town of Nappanee.
• Continued Everett Yoder's petition to rezone 0.29 acres from a residential to a commercial district until the Dec. 6 meeting at 1 p.m. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and south of U.S. 30 in Washington Township.
• Denied Mark and Lynn Davis' petition to rezone 7.37 acres from an agricultural to an agricultural II district. The property is on the west side of CR 400E and 765 feet north of CR 750N in Plain Township.
• Approved Roger and Cynthia Heckman's petition to rezone 1.49 acres from an agricultural to a commercial district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and 420 feet south of CR 800N in Tippecanoe Township.
The Area Plan Commission is only a recommending board to the Kosciusko County Commissioners. The commissioners will make their decisions on the petitions at their Oct. 24 meeting at 10 a.m.
Members of the area plan commission include Charlie Haffner, Kevin McSherry, Kelly Easterday, Don Ahrms, Hal Strong, Dick Kemper, Norm Lovell, Barbara Carwile and Vic Virgil. [[In-content Ad]]
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Concerns about traffic kept two petitions before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission from being approved.
James Evans petitioned to rezone 40.71 acres from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the north side of CR 1000N and approximately 500 to 600 feet east of Ind. 13. The petition was denied by a vote of 5 to 2.
The property is a unique piece of real estate, attorney Steve Snyder said on Evans' behalf, and there is residential, commercial and agricultural property in the area. The property fronts only on CR 1000N.
Since Wawasee Middle School is in that area, there is also sanitary sewer available. Snyder said the area is an obvious place to put a subdivision since the sewer is available.
The proposed development of approximately 76 lots would have all interior driveways. Entrance to the subdivision will have good visibility both ways on CR 1000N for 500 feet, Snyder said.
Bill Dixon owns property adjacent to the property Evans seeks to rezone. He said one of his biggest concerns is traffic.
"Safety is a big issue," he said. "Safety is the main issue." Adding 76 lots to the area would add significant traffic on the road. He also said the property is good for agriculture because he used to own it.
Wawasee Conservation District coordinator Heather Harwood said she is concerned about erosion control problems the new subdivision would create in the area.
Another remonstrator said he is concerned about traffic, too. He said no sidewalks are in the area and there is a lot of school traffic.
He said, "I don't think you'd be doing a favor to any parent who has school children out there."
To all the remonstrators, Snyder replied, "It never ceases to amaze me that if the objections to growth would be followed, there would be no (growth in this county)." He said the property is a good place for growth to occur.
Since the Wawasee Middle School is across the street from the property, he said, that changes the definition of the best use for the property.
Regarding traffic, Snyder said, there is no excuse to turn down a proper development because the county's citizens refuse to obey traffic laws. The road has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour, but people often drive at a much higher speed on the road, he said.
If there are concerns about traffic and students on the road there, Snyder said, the county ought to help because they, as well as the school corporation, collect taxes from the property owners there.
Plan Commission member Charlie Haffner said the problems with this property are self-imposed. He said they are trying to cram 76 lots in there and that land is a very difficult property to properly drain.
"I still don't believe it's a good place for a residential subdivision," plan commission member Don Ahrms said, despite its nearness sanitary sewer.
Hal Strong, plan commission member, said he agrees with Snyder that the county should enforce the speed limit and that the area will be all residential eventually. However, 76 lots would create too much traffic, he said.
Richard L. Gilbert petitioned to rezone ground from an agricultural to an industrial II district. The property is on the east side of Kyle Road and 1,320 feet south of CR 250N in Tippecanoe Township. The petition was unanimously denied.
Gilbert wants to expand his home-based business, in which he buries metal and wire cables for utility companies.
Remonstrators said they were concerned about traffic on Kyle Road and noise created by the growing business.
"We believe his business belongs in an industrial park," said one remonstrator.
In other business, the Plan Commission:
• Approved Dennis and Pam Polk's petition to rezone 8.1 acres from an environmental to an agricultural district. The property is 1,350 feet east of Harper Road and 1,470 feet south of CR 700N in Plain Township.
• Approved Roger Buss' petition to rezone 42 acres from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the east side of Ind. 19 and 1,700 feet north of CR 1350N in Jefferson Township. The property will be annexed by the town of Nappanee.
• Continued Everett Yoder's petition to rezone 0.29 acres from a residential to a commercial district until the Dec. 6 meeting at 1 p.m. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and south of U.S. 30 in Washington Township.
• Denied Mark and Lynn Davis' petition to rezone 7.37 acres from an agricultural to an agricultural II district. The property is on the west side of CR 400E and 765 feet north of CR 750N in Plain Township.
• Approved Roger and Cynthia Heckman's petition to rezone 1.49 acres from an agricultural to a commercial district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and 420 feet south of CR 800N in Tippecanoe Township.
The Area Plan Commission is only a recommending board to the Kosciusko County Commissioners. The commissioners will make their decisions on the petitions at their Oct. 24 meeting at 10 a.m.
Members of the area plan commission include Charlie Haffner, Kevin McSherry, Kelly Easterday, Don Ahrms, Hal Strong, Dick Kemper, Norm Lovell, Barbara Carwile and Vic Virgil. [[In-content Ad]]