The seasonal mobile home park inside the town of North Webster has had a number of violations for years, Dan Richard, area plan commission director, told the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday.

To keep the park as is, Thomas Clutter petitioned the BZA for an exception to change the non-conforming use by allowing additions to the park not meeting minimum required setbacks in a residential district. The property is on the north side of Fourth Street and 175 feet east of Ind. 13 in Tippecanoe Township.

Clutter told the BZA, "It's basically what it is." He said he bought the park in 1979 and people have done with it what they will.

Richard said every unit in the park can build one additional porch or shed as long as they remain 10 feet from another structure, which is tough to do in the park.

"If you can't make it at 10 feet separation," Richard said, "that's a serious fire hazard out there."

Walter Church, board member, made a motion to approve the petition to allow the mobile home park as it is now. After today, any changes need to be brought before the board first or otherwise they will be in violation. The motion was approved.

Also near North Webster, Clint Olson petitioned for an exception and variance. The exception is to allow a car lot in a commercial district while the variance is to permit allowing multiple uses on a tract of ground. The tract currently has a furniture store and coffee shop and Olson wants to add the auto lot.

The property is on the south side of Effie Mae and zero feet east of Main Street in Tippecanoe Township.

A letter from the town of North Webster expressed a number of concerns, including that this is the third exception for the property Olson has requested. While the town council doesn't wish to make an official statement but will rely on the BZA's decision, the letter did express a concern that the tract of ground will be congested.

Olson told the BZA the tent on the ground is coming down by month's end and he plans never to have a tent up again. The property is rather large, he said, and he just wants to maximize his profits from the property.

The BZA approved the petitions on the condition that Olson identify the road right of way and the approval is for one year. After the one-year approval, the North Webster town council must approve the car sales to continue. Olson may have only a maximum of 13 vehicles on display for sale.

In other business, the BZA:

• Continued Wawasee Airport's petition for a variance to permit allowing an additional sell-off. The property is on the south side of CR 1290N and zero feet east of Bishop Road in Turkey Creek Township.

The BZA wants to gather more information and let the plan commission technical committee review the petition.

• Approved Ace Auto Sales' petition for an exception for an auto repair and paint and body shop in a commercial district. The property is on the northwest side of Ind. 15 and 1,100 feet north of CR 1150N in Van Buren Township.

• Denied Tim Hedrick's petition for an exception for a home occupation (residential salvage) in a residential district. The property is on the east side of Smalley Lane and zero feet south of CR 900S in Seward Township.

Members of the BZA include Charlie Haffner, Bob Beer, Vic Virgil, Walter Church and John Conley. [[In-content Ad]]