A proposed residential development on Lake Wawasee has still not been resolved.
The property is at East Crow Road, Syracuse.
Board member Charlene Knispel was unavailable for Wednesday's Area Plan Commission meeting while Milford continues to look for a replacement for Norm Lovell. Lovell resigned from his post and a replacement for him has not yet been named.With just seven board members available, a motion was made to approve the request for a final plat of the land with 13 lots on the land.
The motion went 4-3 in favor of with Dick Kemper, Vic Virgil and Bob Conley voting against it while Larry Coplen, Chuck Haffner, Tony Ettiene and Kevin McSherry voted for it.
But five votes are requried for passage so the final plat request was tabled yet again.
The commission had extensive comments about the proposal with board members noting how complex of an issue it is.
"They've done everything we've asked," said Haffner, speaking of the development proposal meeting the county minimum standards. "It's in their best interest to see problems don't develop."
Haffner also addressed concerns that different contractors would come in and the possibility of unsound homes being built would arise.
"This is a tough decision. I'm not normally a middle-of-the-road guy, but on this I am," said McSherry.
"I'm not convinced totally," said Coplen. "I guess if people want to pay the price for this ground. I guess I value property rights in this situation."
Kosciusko County Plan Director Dan Richard said he will press Milford to name a new board member by the time the plan commission meets again for their July 1 meeting.
Both sides presented their arguments for and against the proposed development during the three-hour meeting.
Attorney Richard Helm lobbied for The Lodge at Wawasee, property owner, looking for the land to be platted with 13 lots.
Helm addressed concerns that the soil wasn't suitable to build on, citing an engineering report.
He brought up civil engineer Kenneth Miller, who said he conducted studies on the soil and said that while some dewatering would have to take place during the construction of the road leading into the development, the ground was suitable for building on.
"We've worked on soils worse than this," said Miller.
Steve Snyder spoke on behave of entities opposed to the development, which include Cedar Point Homeowners Association.
Snyder argued that some of the wetlands weren't being protected in that area.
"Is this where you want developments in Kosciusko County?" Snyder asked the board.
Snyder also took exception with what he perceived as a swipe by Helm in saying Snyder used his position as president of Lake Wawasee Property Owners Association improperly.
Helm, during his rebuttal, said that's not what he meant.
That wasn't the only contentious moment during Wednesday's meeting.
After public discussion was closed, board member Bob Conley attributed a comment to Helm concerning why the value of the property there went down. When Helm told Conley it was Snyder and not him who said that, he was chided by the board for speaking after the time for public comments was closed.
Conley then thanked Helm for correcting him.
Snyder then correctly attributed the comment to Lake Wawasee resident Dave Speakman, who had asked the board why property taxes were down in that area.
During Helm's rebuttal to Snyder's argument, he asked Miller to characterize Snyder's comments concerning the engineering aspects.
Miller said they were "out of context."
The board also approved two vacations, one in Oswego and one in Syracuse, and also approved the minutes from May's meeting.
The board approved to recommend to the county commissioners that the Church of God in Seward Township designate some of its land residential.
The board also chose to keep the issue of wind towers on the back burner for the time being. The issue is still open for public comment.
