Commissioners Table Request To Vacate Road For Condos
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Kosciusko County Commissioners tabled a request to vacate Treasure Island Drive, near Lake Wawasee, Tuesday.
The motion to table was the second delay since the request was submitted. A June 12 hearing on the request was cancelled after it was not properly advertised.
The request is tied to plans to build a 51-unit condominium complex in the area.
Tuesday, developer Bill Drinkall, attorney Randy Morgan and project engineer Gregory Kil attended the commissioners' hearing to speak in favor of vacating the road. The Kosciusko County Plan Commission sent a recommendation that the commissioners deny the requested vacation. Several property owners of nearby Enchanted Hills subdivision also attended to oppose the request.
Plans for the condominiums include construction of the housing units on the west side of Treasure Island Drive and boat piers on the east side. Morgan told the commissioners vacating the road would eliminate traffic, making it safer for pedestrians to cross the road from the condominiums to the piers.
County assistant planner Matt Sandy told the commissioners the Wawasee Community School Corp. opposes the road vacation. He said students living along Treasure Island Drive would have to walk to the end of the road to catch the school bus because the buses will not service dead-end roads.
Ronald Sims, a board member of the Enchanted Hills Community Association, told the commissioners all 14 EHCA board members voted against the request earlier this month.
"We have some real reservations about this situation," Sims said.
Sims said he works as a firefighter and Treasure Island Drive is frequently used during emergencies. Sims said vacating the road would slow emergency access to the area.
Kil told the commissioners plans for the property would include several access points for emergency vehicles, including break-away gates.
Several area residents said they use Treasure Island Drive as a pedestrian and motor route because it is safer than East Wawasee Drive.
Keith Blaugher lives on nearby Fascination Way.
"I'd say that 85 percent of the people who live in the area I live in use the road when they're going to Syracuse," Blaugher said.
Joseph Long lives on Treasure Island Drive, just north of the proposed vacation. Long said he doesn't want his young children to have to walk out to East Wawasee Drive to catch the school bus. He suggested installing speed bumps along Treasure Island Drive to slow traffic.
"I would think there would be some other way other than blocking the roadway," Long said.
Commissioner Brad Jackson suggested the residents and developers reach a compromise.
"From what I'm hearing, it sounds like safety is the biggest concern," Jackson said.
The commissioners told the residents and project planners to work out an agreement providing a public walkway along the current location of Treasure Island Drive and turn-arounds big enough for school buses and snow removal equipment on both ends of the road.
"If we can enable an expansion and get the property owners what they are looking for, I think we can have a win-win," said commissioner Ron Truex.
Sandy said he will advertise and notify interested parties when the next hearing on the vacation request is scheduled.
