Warsaw Planners OK Public-Way Vacations

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Warsaw Plan Commission approved submitting a favorable recommendation Tuesday to the Warsaw City Council for two public-way vacations.

One vacation approved during the public hearing was for a public-way vacation for the alley behind lots 31, 32, 35 and 36 of Jacques Second Addition. The lots are owned by Richard Dey, 525 N. Gilliam St.

The other public-way vacation is for the alley behind lots 33 and 34 of Jacques Second Addition. The lots are owned by Maria Churchill, 519 Gilliam St.[[In-content Ad]]City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the public-way vacations will not be reviewed by the city council until November. He said adjacent property owners were notified of the vacations, and a legal description still is needed for the vacations.

He said a gas line is behind lot 34 of Jacques Second Addition. He has e-mailed NIPSCO about an easement for the gas main if the company does not already have one in place.

The commission also continued discussion on the city's zoning ordinance on C-3 and C-5 zoning districts.

The commission previously discussed the zoning ordinance at its Sept. 10 meeting.

Skinner suggested the plan commission create an ordinance which defines where big box stores should be allowed in the city. The ordinance would state the types of material that would be allowed to be used when a developer constructs a building in Warsaw.

"I feel we will get better-quality buildings if we have standards on what developers should meet," Skinner said.

He said he will print off a zoning map to use for preliminary recommendations where C-5 big box stores could be located in Warsaw. The commission will discuss the areas at its November meeting.

"We want to draw businesses to town, not discourage them, and the ordinance will help developers to know our standards in what a building should look like and where it should be located," commissioner Tammy Dalton said.

Commissioner Jeff Grose said he thinks it is a good idea to plan for locations for larger stores.

"I'd like to be proactive and plan ahead where we think C-5 big box stores should be located in our community," Grose said.

He said there should be roadway, arterial and transportation requirements considered when allowing a big box store in Warsaw.

"If an area is rezoned from a C-3 to a C-5, there should be a requirement for arterials or frontage roads to accommodate traffic that will be generated from a larger store," Grose said.

Thallemer agreed a transportation plan would be beneficial.

"A transportation plan would require the developer to provide a transportation study to know what types of roads are needed to accommodate the development of a larger scale store," Thallemer said.

Also during the meeting, Warsaw resident Kyle Babcock informed commissioners he has discussed with Skinner the city setting standards for requiring contractors in Warsaw to be licensed.

He said the city has a building inspector, but there is not a requirement for a contractor to be licensed.

Babcock also informed commissioners that there are overgrown bushes along Husky Trail where Menards will be constructed and suggested they be trimmed. Skinner said he will look into the matter.

Commissioners are Tom Allen, Dalton, Jim Gast, Lacy Francis, Rick Keeven, Grose and Thallemer.

Warsaw Plan Commission approved submitting a favorable recommendation Tuesday to the Warsaw City Council for two public-way vacations.

One vacation approved during the public hearing was for a public-way vacation for the alley behind lots 31, 32, 35 and 36 of Jacques Second Addition. The lots are owned by Richard Dey, 525 N. Gilliam St.

The other public-way vacation is for the alley behind lots 33 and 34 of Jacques Second Addition. The lots are owned by Maria Churchill, 519 Gilliam St.[[In-content Ad]]City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the public-way vacations will not be reviewed by the city council until November. He said adjacent property owners were notified of the vacations, and a legal description still is needed for the vacations.

He said a gas line is behind lot 34 of Jacques Second Addition. He has e-mailed NIPSCO about an easement for the gas main if the company does not already have one in place.

The commission also continued discussion on the city's zoning ordinance on C-3 and C-5 zoning districts.

The commission previously discussed the zoning ordinance at its Sept. 10 meeting.

Skinner suggested the plan commission create an ordinance which defines where big box stores should be allowed in the city. The ordinance would state the types of material that would be allowed to be used when a developer constructs a building in Warsaw.

"I feel we will get better-quality buildings if we have standards on what developers should meet," Skinner said.

He said he will print off a zoning map to use for preliminary recommendations where C-5 big box stores could be located in Warsaw. The commission will discuss the areas at its November meeting.

"We want to draw businesses to town, not discourage them, and the ordinance will help developers to know our standards in what a building should look like and where it should be located," commissioner Tammy Dalton said.

Commissioner Jeff Grose said he thinks it is a good idea to plan for locations for larger stores.

"I'd like to be proactive and plan ahead where we think C-5 big box stores should be located in our community," Grose said.

He said there should be roadway, arterial and transportation requirements considered when allowing a big box store in Warsaw.

"If an area is rezoned from a C-3 to a C-5, there should be a requirement for arterials or frontage roads to accommodate traffic that will be generated from a larger store," Grose said.

Thallemer agreed a transportation plan would be beneficial.

"A transportation plan would require the developer to provide a transportation study to know what types of roads are needed to accommodate the development of a larger scale store," Thallemer said.

Also during the meeting, Warsaw resident Kyle Babcock informed commissioners he has discussed with Skinner the city setting standards for requiring contractors in Warsaw to be licensed.

He said the city has a building inspector, but there is not a requirement for a contractor to be licensed.

Babcock also informed commissioners that there are overgrown bushes along Husky Trail where Menards will be constructed and suggested they be trimmed. Skinner said he will look into the matter.

Commissioners are Tom Allen, Dalton, Jim Gast, Lacy Francis, Rick Keeven, Grose and Thallemer.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Wawasee Community School Corporation Reorganizes, Announces Restructuring Plan To Protect Classrooms, Streamline Operations
SYRACUSE – In response to projected budget reductions for the 2025–26 school year, Wawasee Community School Corporation (WCSC) is implementing a strategic restructuring plan that prioritizes classrooms, safeguards educational quality and streamlines district operations.

The Penalty Box: Bears Need To Pick A Site And Start Digging
Everything about the Chicago Bears feels like they’re trending upward.

Winona Lake Zoning
Poage

vacation of Public Way
Clevenger

Public Occurrences 05.14.25
County Jail Bookings The following people were arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail: