A decision on the vacation of a public way off Northshore Drive near Syracuse was tabled by the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday morning. After nearly an hour of discussion, the commissioners, without directly telling attorney Steve Snyder, indicated that they’d like the matter tabled to see if a compromise between the petitioner and those members of the public against the vacation could be reached. At the April 7 Area Plan Commission meeting, the board voted 5-2 to deny a favorable recommendation toward vacating a 32-foot tract of land that stretches from Northshore Drive to Syracuse Lake. It is currently zoned as a public way. Snyder said that because of the steepness of the drop from the road to the lake, combined with state statute, no real purpose was served by keeping it a public way. Snyder represented the petitioner Time Frame Properties at both the plan commission meeting as well as Tuesday’s commissioners meeting. Several people against the vacation spoke at both the April 7 meeting as well as Tuesday. Jack Ayotte said he had an agreement with the previous property owner to have a pier at the end of the stretch of land. Don Stewart said had he known that could be used by the public, he would have used that instead of public park land to access the water and use public piers. One of Snyder’s contentions was that vacating the property didn’t adversely affect the public’s ability to access Syracuse Lake because of the town’s piers and parks. Snyder also said that by adding that vacated property to an owner’s current property, that land would start being taxed. During the plan commission meeting, it was estimated the land could draw up to $1,200 in property taxes. Property owner Jason Mickey said he and his wife purchased land near the public way at an escalated price because they were told by their realtor they could use the public way to access the lake. Snyder said the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is clear on who can use the lakefront to put up a pier. He said a person must either own lakefront property or have written permission. Snyder also argued that allowing to keep the property as public way worked against the county’s own ordinances, which limit the amount of development on a piece of lakefront property. “I just don’t understand how you can restrict the owner of lakefront property but have absolutely no restriction on the number of people who can come down on a public street to the lake and have no ownership,” said Snyder. Area Plan Director Dan Richard said Snyder was “comparing apples to oranges” when citing the county’s ordinances compared to its position against road vacation. “(Snyder) would have you believe (the property) would be a mobile home park,” said Richard. “The plan commission tries to stay consistent and (protect) the rights of the public.” Snyder, during a rebuttal, said he felt sorry for the Mickey family, and said there were avenues they could pursue that would allow them to perhaps recoup some money they lost in purchasing their property with the assumption they had lakefront access. After nearly an hour, the commissioners deliberated away from their microphones and then called Snyder up. “Our concern is with the people who own land within a certain proximity,” said county commissioner president Brad Jackson. “So you’re saying vacate a portion?” asked Snyder. “No. I’m not saying that,” said Jackson. Finally, a motion was made to table the hearing for two weeks. It will be on the schedule for the commissioners’ next meeting May 10 at 9 a.m. Commissioners meetings take place at 9 a.m. in the old courtroom at the Kosciusko County Courthouse.
