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Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved several petitions and gave approval to send the planned unit development (PUD) ordinance amendments to the county commissioners during their meeting Wednesday, May 6.
Lucas Britton had petitioned the commission for a plat approval on an Agricultural-2 subdivision on 1.69 acres, located between CR 780W and North Ind. 25 in Harrison Township, which was approved. The commission approved the final plat for Britton, after he stated that “Everything’s good and we’re ready to rock and roll.”
Steve Snyder, local attorney representing Lamar Mast, requested approval for an Agricultural-2 subdivision on 5.68 acres, located north of CR 1050N and west of Ind. 19 in Scott Township. Matt Sandy, APC director, explained to the commission members that Mast wanted to put another house on the property and that the county health department wanted to see the septic system just to verify before giving a final approval.
Snyder noted that both homes would be on their own properties, “which would not be a problem. Otherwise, the plat meets all of the subdivision control ordinance requirements.”
Joe Irwin, commission member, asked if there would be any way to have another driveway off to the east, to which Sandy answered that they would have to meet minimum setbacks of 50 feet, and it would be tight. Snyder responded that there were no plans currently to do so as the homeowners wanted to keep it pasture. This was approved, contingent on septic locations.
Scott Langohr asked for approval for an Agricultural-2 subdivision on 4.2 acres of land located east of Ind. 13 and south of Shoop Road in Washington Township. He had asked the commission in February to rezone 4.2 acres from an Agricultural to an Agricultural-2 District, which was approved.
Langohr stated that his daughter wanted to have her own piece of the family farm when she moved back home, which is why they were doing this. Sandy asked if they were planning to use an easement for the driveway, or if they were going to use the long drive that split the two properties already. Langohr replied that she would be able to use the long drive, as that was a part of the deed. This was approved.
Snyder, represening Healthy Lifestyles, asked to rezone property north of CR 1350N and west of Ind. 19 in Scott Township from an Agricultural District to a Commercial District. Sandy noted that back in 2000, this property had been before the Board of Zoning Appeals for an exception for storage warehousing, which was approved.
“What spurred this was a potential violation on the property and to correct it,” said Sandy. “This is in a transition area where that commercial (zoning) has happened …”
Snyder told the commission that Dead Center Underground had used this property to store their equipment for a long time and they want to move operations to that property full-time by placing an office inside the already existing building.
Commission member Matt Goodnight asked if there were any agricultural activities going on at the property, which Snyder answered no. Irwin asked about the drainage for the area and Sandy answered that it has always been tricky because of the soil and the roadway. Sandy stated that if it does go to a commercial zoning, the petitioners would have to work with the state on septic, “and there will be no assurances of what will be approved by them.” This was approved.
Tina Owens, with John Kimpel and Associates Land Survey, did the survey and the plat work for petitioners Carl and Tammy Kendrik, who asked for approval for an Agricultural-2 Subdivision on 1.5 acres of land located south of Union Street and west of Ind. 15 in Clay Township. Sandy noted that the tract has exhausted all available divisions and this is the next step for them.
Sandy asked Owens if they found the septic while doing the survey, to which Owens responded they did not. Prior to final approval, Kosciusko County Board of Health Deputy Administrator Neal Brown wanted to verify where the location of it is and to see if it is on the same property. This was approved.
Owens was also there on behalf of Kenneth Light, who asked for approval for an Agricultural-2 Subdivision on land located north of CR 1200S and east of CR 200W in Lake Township. Sandy noted that there would be a lot of issues with drainage and the homeowners will be limited when it comes to building on the second tract.
Owens admitted that it will be difficult, but the ultimate goal is to place a cabin-like home in the wooded area for Light’s child to live and be closer to home. She noted that while there is a lot of drainage, the soil is good for septic. James Moyer, commission secretary and county surveyor, stated that he would monitor the construction of this home.
Bob Conley, commission member, asked if the property was currently underwater after all the rain, which Owens answered that it was not. Larry Coplen, commission member, noted that he had a concern about the driveway and that the second drive would be very close to the first. Coplen remarked that “hopefully the next owners like each other.” Owens remarked that a surveyor had laid all of this out for Light and is willing to move forward. This was approved.
Sandy explained to the commission that Casey Boggs would be resigning from the commission because of a job change.
“Since he was appointed by the Small Town Committees, we’ll have to gather all those folks and see if we can get an appointment,” said Sandy.
The PUD ordinance is to encourage and permit innovative, creative and unique residential and commercial development, as stated in the ordinance amendment. The PUD ordinance, as stated by Sandy, is not a mandatory section, “but it’s an option and another tool in our toolbox to help development in our areas where we’re trying to find that unique fit.” Sandy noted that there were many layers of oversight and review, which he felt are important when talking about density increases.
Burke Richeson, in-house counsel for Collins Equity Group, a developer out of Plymouth, noted that when talking about mixed-use and residential developments, “that PUDs fall right in our wheelhouse.” He gave examples of how PUDs had been used in other housing editions in the area and noted that the only thing he would add to the amendment would be an as-needed review committee for any changes that may happen.
Sandy and Conley both noted that this was in the amendments already under section 3.24.6.8 Final Development Plan Approval, which states that the petitioner will submit a final development plan for review and approval by the APC. From there, the APC will have primary authority to review and approve the final development plan and may delegate review authority to its staff or a designated committee.
Richeson agreed that this was a good tool to use and was approved to be sent to the county commissioners.
The next meeting of the APC will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 3.
