Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Preliminary plans for a new branch of Mutual Federal Savings Bank were addressed Monday at the Warsaw Plan Commission meeting.
The company asked for a zoning change from I-3, heavy industrial, to C-3, arterial commercial, at the southeast corner of CR 250N and Ind. 15.
Attorney Steve Harris, representing Mutual Federal, noted the two lots, 1.5 acres, are currently being used for commercial purposes. A change to commercial zoning also is in accordance with the city's comprehensive plan.
The plan commissioners forwarded a favorable change to the city council.
The area is within the Northern Economic Development Area.
The land was annexed into the city in 1990 and is owned by Ben Weaver.
The board also cleared up some very old business by establishing a residential planned unit development on North Pointe Drive.
The property, 4.33 acres commonly called North Pointe Apartments, was illegally subdivided in 1991 into 18 lots with five different owners.
In 1999, a recommendation to rezone the property as a PUD was proposed.
Wes Culver, the original developer and part owner in Phase I and 2 of the development, presented a contract showing the various owners have formed a general partnership.
He said what he believes happened 10 years ago is that former city planner Pat Hudson saw the property as an apartment complex and not a subdivision partnership. For the third phase, individual lots were bought and no individual plats were created.
The three streets serving the 18 apartment buildings and Sand Dollar, Sand Piper and Sand Castle drives, will remain private.
The commissioners also approved a preliminary plat for the PUD.
The PUD and the plat will be forwarded to the city council for approval.
In other business, the board:
• Gave primary and secondary approval of a development plan requested by Orthodontic Specialties Services.
The company wishes to place a dental office in a residential area, 841 S. Union St.
Plans call for demolishing the existing structure and building a new facility.
• Heard from city planner Jeff Noffsinger that he has been meeting with Dan Richard, county planner, and Craig Allebach, Winona Lake town coordinator, regarding development of the western corridor.
Noffsinger indicated that a "charette" is planned to interview community leaders and elected officials regarding the corridor with the collected information made available to the public at a later date.
Plan commissioners are Joe Thallemer, Jeff Grose, Jim Gast, Dewey Lawshe and Alan Clingan. Richard Keeven was absent. The next meeting is June 10 at 7 p.m.
