An antique farm machinery group may continue to have tractor shows in an agricultural district outside Claypool.
The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals made that decision at its meeting on Tuesday regarding Echoes of the Past.
Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy noted Echoes has had events at the property on the east side of County Farm Road and north of CR 700S for years.
"(The events have) grown steadily," he said.
Sandy said Echoes came before the board just to make sure they were in compliance with county rules.
"(They just want) to make sure that they're covered and we're covered," said Sandy.
He also said Echoes wanted to put in a bathroom at the site for events.
"Talking to the (Kosciusko County) Health Department and our office, they felt it was an appropriate route just so that there's no question (regarding their events)," said Sandy.
Echoes member Dan Ransbottom was the first to speak before the board. He owns the property the Echoes use.
Ransbottom noted Echoes has three main events a year on the property. Beaver Dam Community Church's Wheels on Fire - Cancer Crusaders provide food at them to raise money for cancer patients in several counties, including Kosciusko County.
"Everything we do down there is free," said Ransbottom. "Everyone is welcome."
Several other members also spoke on behalf of Echoes, including the group's president, Thames Goon. Those associated with Echoes filled several seat rows of the Kosciusko County Courthouse's Old Courtroom where the meeting took place.
There were also several people who wrote letters in support of Echoes.
The board unanimously approved the request.
At the meeting, the board also:
• Approved an exception allowing three uses on an industrial property at 510 E. Main St., Atwood. Several people spoke in opposition at the February meeting, from which the case was continued, as well as at Tuesday's meeting. The board agreed to approve the matter with the stipulation that JW Concrete, the owner of the site, will work with the state on any potential sewage issues.
• Dropped a case from Robert Olson, who wanted a variance to permit the construction of an 864-square-foot detached garage 20 feet from the right-of-way of the road and 25 feet from the water's edge. The property is at 11 EMS W32 Lane, North Webster. The board dropped the case due to a survey finding measurements were off.
• Approved allowing Wacky 2 Premier to have an exception for allowing storage condominiums in an agricultural district. The property is on the south side of CR 650N, east of EMS T52 Lane in Tippecanoe Township.
• Approved a variance request from Phillip Harshman to allow a residence at 7735 W. Camabraw Park Lane, Akron, to remain as constructed 5 feet from the west property line, 6.6 feet from the east property line and 33.5 feet from the right-of-way of the road.
• Approved a variance request from David Granger to build a new residence at 1017 E. Northshore Drive, Syracuse, 5 feet from the right-of-way of the road and 5 feet from each sideline.
• Approved two requests from Andrew Stokely for property on the south side of Ideal Beach Drive north of Ind. 13 in Turkey Creek Township. One was for an exception to construct a residence containing 1,271 square feet of garage on the ground floor with living quarters on the second floor, with the property to later become the second residence in one parcel of land. The other was for a variance for the property to be 10 feet from the right-of-way of Ideal Beach Drive, 10 feet from the right-of-way of Ind. 13 and 5 feet from the north sideline.
• Approved a variance request from James Frank to build a two-story deck 12 feet from the water's edge at 32 EMS W25 Lane, North Webster.
• Approved a variance allowing Doug Wise to temporarily live in a camper without a license plate at 2710 E. 550S, Warsaw, while his new home is being built there.
• Denied an exception request from Jayme Poulin to have chickens at 13606 N. Ind. 19, Nappanee, in a residential district. Leaders cited bird flu concerns and that they haven't approved chickens in a residential district yet. Poulin has six months to get rid of the animals.
The board also approved a variance request brought by Poulin for the same above property regarding allowing a porch to be 8 inches from the north property line.
• Approved two requests from Randy and Deborah Beck for property at 41 EMS T4 Lane, North Webster. One was an exception for an oversized accessory building at 26-feet-by-28-feet where only 576 square feet is allowed, with the other being for a detached garage to be 10.5 feet from the road right-of-way. The board asked that the garage be a side-load one.
• Approved two requests from Greg Wyant. They were for an exception for constructing a second home at 328 E. North Kitson Lane, Syracuse, on a single parcel and a variance for putting that second residence 5 feet from the road right-of-way and 20 feet from the water's edge. Several people spoke in opposition, with Board Chairman Lee Harman voting in opposition, unlike the rest of the board.
• Approved a variance request from Michael Coe to build a carport at 29 EMS T31 Lane, Leesburg, 3.2 feet from the side property line.
• Continued a case from Jason Fry until its next meeting on April 8, due to needing a better site plan. Fry is requesting an exception for allowing an 80-foot-by-80-foot accessory building at 5190 W. CR 1350N, Nappanee, in an agricultural district.
The board's next meeting is noon April 8 in the Old Courtroom due to construction in its normal meeting place in the Kosciusko County Justice Building.