City Studies Applicability Of Architectural Panels As They Relate To City Ordinances

May 14, 2019 at 1:48 a.m.


Quickly Monday evening, the Warsaw Plan Commission approved three petitions for preliminary and final plats.

Then it spent almost an hour discussing architectural panels and what kind of architectural panels fit within the city’s ordinances.

The first preliminary and final plat was for the reconfiguration of two lots at 909 Glee Miner Drive, as requested by Grace Schools. The two lots total 1.89 acres and are in residential-2 zoning.

Senior Planner Justin Taylor recommended the preliminary and final plat approval for the Glee Miner Shores Subdivision be granted, which it was. There were no remonstrators against it.

The preliminary plat and final replat for the subdivision of one lot to create three lots in a Commercial-3 zoning at 2365 Shelby Drive was requested by JEM?Properties LLC. The total size of all three lots is 3.83 acres.

Taylor also recommended the Plan Commission approve the preliminary and final replat. There were no remonstrators.

The third petition was by Groninger Enterprises LLC for a subdivision and reconfiguration to create three lots on 17.79 acres in an Industrial-2 zoning at 2450 Deelyn Drive.

There were no remonstrators, and Taylor also recommended its approval.

After those three petitions were approved, Taylor then presented the discussion on architectural panels and what the city ordinance says about them under “development plan design standards.”

He said a question before the plan commission was in regard to the architectural panels.

“Typically, pole barn siding isn’t permitted per this ordinance in these zoning ordinances (C-2,3,4,5), but a request has been made if they can use a certain type of siding. So at that time, the planning department doesn’t feel comfortable making a decision so it brought it before the board for its review, and that’s where we’re at,” Taylor said.

He said the Commission can approve or disapprove the type of panel being requested to be used. If the Commission approved the panels in this specific instance, Taylor said that decision could be applied to future buildings in the city. He said it wouldn’t necessarily change the language of the city’s ordinance, but it would give the planning department more guidance in what is acceptable in the city.

Jim Malcolm, a Claypool architect, represents JLane in this matter.

“What brought this whole thing about was when I asked (City Planner) Jeremy (Skinner), (the ordinance) says metal architectural panel is useable. When we go look at the various suppliers, everybody has an architectural panel ... we’re asking for that (specific) one, but also in the long term consideration of some of the architectural panels that are out there,” Malcolm said.

Dan Robinson, of Robinson Construction, who is trying to price costs for JLane’s building, said they’re trying to get clarity and what kind of paneling is and isn’t allowed by the city.

Malcolm, Robinson and the Commission then discussed the different types of architectural panel, different qualities and what makes some paneling better than others.

In the end, the Commission acknowledged that the city’s planning department needed to revisit and reconsider the city’s ordinance regarding panel.

It also approved a motion from James Emans, city engineer and Commission member, specifically regarding the JLane paneling.

His motion was “that the presented concealed-fastener insulated panel with an approximate 7.2 profile ... steel fabric complies with the intent of the ordinance and is allowed.”

Quickly Monday evening, the Warsaw Plan Commission approved three petitions for preliminary and final plats.

Then it spent almost an hour discussing architectural panels and what kind of architectural panels fit within the city’s ordinances.

The first preliminary and final plat was for the reconfiguration of two lots at 909 Glee Miner Drive, as requested by Grace Schools. The two lots total 1.89 acres and are in residential-2 zoning.

Senior Planner Justin Taylor recommended the preliminary and final plat approval for the Glee Miner Shores Subdivision be granted, which it was. There were no remonstrators against it.

The preliminary plat and final replat for the subdivision of one lot to create three lots in a Commercial-3 zoning at 2365 Shelby Drive was requested by JEM?Properties LLC. The total size of all three lots is 3.83 acres.

Taylor also recommended the Plan Commission approve the preliminary and final replat. There were no remonstrators.

The third petition was by Groninger Enterprises LLC for a subdivision and reconfiguration to create three lots on 17.79 acres in an Industrial-2 zoning at 2450 Deelyn Drive.

There were no remonstrators, and Taylor also recommended its approval.

After those three petitions were approved, Taylor then presented the discussion on architectural panels and what the city ordinance says about them under “development plan design standards.”

He said a question before the plan commission was in regard to the architectural panels.

“Typically, pole barn siding isn’t permitted per this ordinance in these zoning ordinances (C-2,3,4,5), but a request has been made if they can use a certain type of siding. So at that time, the planning department doesn’t feel comfortable making a decision so it brought it before the board for its review, and that’s where we’re at,” Taylor said.

He said the Commission can approve or disapprove the type of panel being requested to be used. If the Commission approved the panels in this specific instance, Taylor said that decision could be applied to future buildings in the city. He said it wouldn’t necessarily change the language of the city’s ordinance, but it would give the planning department more guidance in what is acceptable in the city.

Jim Malcolm, a Claypool architect, represents JLane in this matter.

“What brought this whole thing about was when I asked (City Planner) Jeremy (Skinner), (the ordinance) says metal architectural panel is useable. When we go look at the various suppliers, everybody has an architectural panel ... we’re asking for that (specific) one, but also in the long term consideration of some of the architectural panels that are out there,” Malcolm said.

Dan Robinson, of Robinson Construction, who is trying to price costs for JLane’s building, said they’re trying to get clarity and what kind of paneling is and isn’t allowed by the city.

Malcolm, Robinson and the Commission then discussed the different types of architectural panel, different qualities and what makes some paneling better than others.

In the end, the Commission acknowledged that the city’s planning department needed to revisit and reconsider the city’s ordinance regarding panel.

It also approved a motion from James Emans, city engineer and Commission member, specifically regarding the JLane paneling.

His motion was “that the presented concealed-fastener insulated panel with an approximate 7.2 profile ... steel fabric complies with the intent of the ordinance and is allowed.”
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