Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Town of Nappanee plans to annex a subdivision, approximately 63 acres, in northwestern Kosciusko County within the next five to seven months.
The property is on the north side of CR 1350N and east of Fox Crest Drive in Jefferson Township and is owned by Roger Buss.
Wednesday, Buss petitioned the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission for a preliminary plat approval for a residential development on a portion of the property, known as Paddlebrook Pond East. The other portion, Paddlebrook Pond North, is still zoned agricultural and will be on the Oct. 4 plan commission agenda to be rezoned to residential.
Whatever platting is not completed by the time Nappanee annexes the property, the town will handle instead of the county. Until that time, the county must hear the rezoning and platting petitions.
A representative for Buss, Blake Dorio, a land surveying consultant, said the annexed property will be served by Nappanee utilities. Only Buss' property will be annexed, not adjoining property. Drainage issues will be addressed.
Buss told the plan commission he will "most definitely" put a restrictive covenant on the plat. A restrictive covenant prevents property from being further subdividing than what is proposed on the final plat.
Nappanee representatives told the plan commission the property does meet all the city control ordinances. The town reviewed it and they are happy.
The agreement, in lieu of annexation, Nappanee attorney Brian Hoffer said, will require another party to maintain the commons and retention pond, not the city.
The petition for a preliminary plat was approved on the condition that if for any reason Nappanee does not annex the property, the county's recommendation is null and void and the property must comply with the city of Nappanee standards. Drainage and stormwater issues also must be addressed.
Dennis Replogle's two petitions for preliminary plats were approved, but with the condition that the lots not be further subdivided - a condition the petitioner agreed to reluctantly.
The first preliminary plat was for a residential development east of Milford between Beer Road and CR 1250N in Van Buren Township. The other plat was for 33.26 acres of agricultural II development east of Milford between Beer Road and CR 1250N in Van Buren Township.
Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson, in a letter to the plan commission, said the two plats should be developed with an interior road with curb and gutters and a detailed drainage plan. The road should have two entrances and a looping pattern.
The highway department, Ladson wrote, is opposed to subdivisions being developed in strips along rural county roads. All lots in subdivisions should be accessed through interior roads with curb and gutters. Otherwise, the result is multiple drives accessing roads that are normally driven at high speeds.
Multiple drives also can create drainage problems for rural roads.
Ladson also wrote he is concerned about children playing in subdivisions in areas of strip development with higher traffic speeds.
The plan commission agreed with Ladson's concerns and would only approve the petitions if the property owner would agree to a restrictive covenance. The lots are planned to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
In other business, the plan commission:
• Approved Dale Custer's petition for a preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 9.324 acres of ground. The property is on the north side of Old Road 30 and one-fourth mile west of CR 300E in Wayne Township.
• Approved Scott Warren's petition for a preliminary plat approval for an agricultural II subdivision on 1.96 acres. The property is on the east side of CR 650W and 580 feet north of CR 100N in Harrison Township.
• Dropped Lance Wilhite's petition, by request, to rezone .55 acre from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the north side of Wilcox Road and 1,020 feet east of CR 275E in Wayne Township.
• Tabled Everett Yoder's petition, by request, to rezone .29 acre from a residential to a commercial district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 13 and south of new U.S. 30 in Washington Township.
• Reapproved the final plat for the first addition of Lakeview Terrace. The petitioners want to change the lot lines by 5 feet and amend the setback from 50 to 40 feet. County requires a 35-foot setback.
• Approved the final plat for Snavely's Rustic Acres, a three-lot agricultural II subdivision near County Line Road. No further subdividing of the property is permitted.
Members of the area plan commission are Charlie Haffner, Kevin McSherry, Kelly Easterday, Don Ahrms, Hal Strong, Dick Kemper, Norm Lovell, Barbara Carwile and Vic Virgil.
They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse on the first Wednesday of every month.
