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Three rezoning petitions before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission were approved Wednesday.
Chad Tom petitioned to rezone 2.123 acres from an environmental district to an agricultural district. The property is on the northwest side of CR 500E and zero feet north of Kalorama Road in Tippecanoe Township.
Plan Commission Director Dan Richard said the acreage is part of a classified forest program.
Tom told the board he wanted to rezone it agricultural to keep it the same as surrounding property. The approximately 2 acres cut out of a larger approximately 15-acre environmental district was a family camping area. He said he wants to build one home on the land with one garage.
Remonstrator Jane Cauffman said she was concerned about any drainage problems that may be caused by the change in rezoning and that the property may be better rezoned residential than agricultural because she was weary of livestock in the area.
Tom responded that the property drainage was taken care of and there was no room for livestock on the property.
Kelly Easterday, plan commission member, also said that besides the 2 acres not being enough room for concentrated livestock, the property also is too close to the local waterway.
Another remonstrator, Wayne Walston, also said he feared the property being rezoned agricultural might not be allowing the land to be used for its "highest and best use."
He said, "I like to see homes go in there if they are substantial and add to the area."
"I hate to see a piece like that go," said Hal Strong, plan commission member. "It looks like spot zoning."
Don Arms made a motion to approve the rezoning and Norm Lovell seconded the motion. It was approved by a vote of 6 to 1, with Strong opposed.
On rezonings, the plan commission is only a recommending body to the county commissioners. The rezoning will go before the commissioners July 27 at 9:30 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Jeffrey and Debra Frazier's petition to rezone ground from a commercial to a residential district was unanimously approved. Because the property is in Pierceton, their petition will go before the Pierceton Town council - instead of the county commissioners - Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The property is on the east side of First Street and is less than 1 acre.
Deb Frazier told the plan commission the main purpose for the rezoning is to put in an inground pool. As long as the property is commercial, any changes to the property would have to be approved by the county zoning board.
The last rezoning before the plan commission came from Michael and Laura Norton. They requested to rezone ground from an agricultural to a residential district. The property is on the east side of Scott Road and is 2,800 feet northeast of CR 500S in Seward Township.
Michael Norton told the commission he wants to split the 3-1/4 acres down the middle and give half to each of his children.
Kevin McSherry, plan commission, said the land is very light soil and good for housing.
There were no remonstrators and the petition was unanimously approved.
Members of the plan commission are Norm Lovell, Vic Virgil, Hal Strong, Kevin McSherry, Don Arms, Kelly Easterday, Dick Kemper, Charlie Haffner and Larry Coplen. They meet at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the Justice Building meeting room, Warsaw.
