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Max Fisher's plans to sell used cars on his property were nixed Wednesday by the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission.
Fisher's property is on the north side of Ind. 14 and east of Ind. 13 in Jackson Township. He had petitioned to rezone approximately four acres from an agricultural to a commercial district.
Dan Richard, plan commission director, said the property is in an agricultural zone, though there is some commercially zoned property, too.
Richard said he supplied the commission members with comments from the comprehensive plan that apply to Fisher's request and property.
The comprehensive plan encourages commercial development in the central business district of incorporated areas and in areas where it is compatible with surrounding properties.
Fisher said he bought the property almost two years ago as an investment, not knowing it was agricultural land. He wants to rezone it to commercial because he is asking commercial prices, he said.
He has been selling cars there and wants to continue selling them there until the property sells.
Kosciusko County Surveyor and commission member Richard Kemper said he thought the property was too large for "this commercial facility."
Richard said the commission should remember that if the property is rezoned to commercial, it opens the door for various commercial uses. Fisher selling cars on the property is in violation of current zoning, Richard said.
The commission voted to deny the rezoning request with only one member, Charlie Haffner, disagreeing.
The plan commission is only a recommending body to the Kosciusko County commissioners, who will hear the request Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse.
In other business, the plan commission:
• Approved the final plat for David and Karen Zigon.
The Zigons petitioned in February for a preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 0.062 acres.
They want to replat lot 62 of Lincoln Park, fifth addition. The intent is to move a drainage and utility easement 10 feet to the west of its current location. By moving the easement, a proposed swimming pool can be accommodated.
The property is on the southwest side of Gettysburg Court and 200 feet south of Walnut Street in Wayne Township.
• Dropped a petition by Kent Carter to rezone a lot from residential to commercial. The property is on the west side of CR 300E and south of EMS C23 Lane in Plain Township.
Members of the plan commission present Wednesday included Kevin McSherry, Barb Carwile, Norm Lovell, Don Ahrms, chairman Vic Virgil, Kelly Easterday, Dick Kemper and Charlie Haffner. Not present was Hal Strong. The plan commission meets at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Wednesday of every month.
