Kosciusko County Commissioners approved a change in building height regulations Tuesday.
The regulation governs the height of buildings, mostly in residential areas in the county. The regulation sets a maximum of 40 feet for the height of a house, or primary structure, and 20 feet for a secondary structure like a shed or garage. When an owner wants to exceed those heights, he or she is required to request a hearing with the Board of Zoning Appeals to obtain a variance.The height regulation formerly included a clause requiring an increase of setbacks for a building proportional to the requested increase in height. With the commissioners' approval Tuesday, that clause was dropped from the regulation. The clause prevented some owners from even being able to petition the zoning board if the increased setbacks weren't possible on their property.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said the new ordinance is an improvement from the old one.
"The way this was written before, it didn't make much sense," Jackson said.
The Area Plan Commission sent a unanimous recommendation to the commissioners to approve the ordinance change.
In other news, the commissioners also approved the acceptance of a $900,000 grant to upgrade 911 systems in the area to be compatible with an 800 megahertz communication system. Kosciusko County will serve as the fiscal agent disbursing and managing the grant money, but the money will go to agencies throughout Indiana Emergency Management District 2 which also includes Saint Joseph, Elkhart, Pulaski, Starke, Marshall and Fulton counties.
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock said he and other district emergency management personnel have been working on this grant since November, and it was the biggest district grant awarded during this grant cycle.
"When this grant is completely expended, all primary dispatch centers in District 2 will have significant 800mhz capabilities," Rock said.
The commissioners also approved the reappointment of Gordon Vanator to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
