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With only five of the nine Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission members present Wednesday, the commission took no action on the rezoning petition or ordinance revisions before them.
Instead, both actions were tabled to the June 5 meeting at 1 p.m., when it is hoped more of the members will be present to discuss them. For a motion to be approved by the plan commission, it requires five members to agree, but not all five of the members present Wednesday agreed on the petition.
The petition by Rebecca Kelly is to rezone ground from an agricultural district to a residential district. The property is 350 feet by 1,320 feet at the southwest corner of the intersection of CRs 1100N and 1000E and one-fourth mile east of Turkey Creek Road in Turkey Creek Township.
A representative for Kelly said Kelly owns 80 acres but is going to fence off the 350 feet by 1,320 feet for her own residence. A small subdivision, approximately 15-16 homes, will be built on the remaining acres. He said the subdivision will have concrete curbs, gutters and roads and interior roads.
Remonstrator Carl Schmucker said he doesn't want to see more homes in the area. More homes will put more pressure on the local emergency services and schools.
"No matter how nice the homes may be, you're putting more city in the country. We don't want to see that," Schmucker said. He said he moved out into the country for "wide open spaces."
Agreeing, remonstrator Nancy Mason said she moved out to the country to be out in the country. "I really hate to see all those houses there," she said. Another concern for her, she said, was with all the new housing, there would be more run-off into Lake Wawasee.
Barbara Carwile, plan commissioner and Syracuse town councilwoman, said adding that many more homes 3-1/2 miles from Cromwell and seven miles from Syracuse could be problematic for the emergency services. "I just can't see it with all those houses out there," she said.
Until sewer is available there, plan commissioner Charlie Haffner said, he couldn't see that many houses go out there either.
Hal Strong, plan commissioner, said he wasn't worried about the distance for the emergency services. "It's going to develop, you know that."
Haffner made a motion to table the petition because of the disagreement among board members, and Strong seconded the motion.
The ordinance revisions tabled for further discussion include items on mailboxes, setbacks and signs.
If the ordinances are approved, the definition of a structure will be anything constructed or erected, including mailboxes as defined. The definition of a mailbox is then defined as a "mail receptacle mounted upon post that is either 6 feet by 6 feet wood or plastic break-away posts or 2-1/2 feet diameter metal breakaway posts."
The ordinance revisions would also require a minimum setback of 20,000 square feet instead of 15,000 on lots without public sewer.
Revisions for signs include changes for temporary political/campaign signs, real estate signs, construction signs and other development or land sale signs.
Political signs, under the revisions, can't be erected on any property without property owner consent; can't obstruct traffic or pedestrian view; can't look like a traffic sign of any kind; and can't be on government right of way without the consent of government.
Changes for the real estate or construction signs restrict size, location and number of signs in a permitted zoned lot. It also limits the number of days they can be posted.
Members of the plan commission present Wednesday included Carwile, Strong, Vic Virgil, Haffner and Dick Kemper. Not present were Don Arms, Kevin McSherry, Kelly Easterday and Norm Lovell. They meet at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the county courthouse.
For rezonings and ordinance revisions, the plan commission is only a recommending board to the Kosciusko County commissioners.
