Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Tuesday, Sam Stimmel petitioned the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals for an exception to allow his business, Stimmelators, to expand closer than the 1,000 feet to a residentially zoned district in a commercial district allowed.
The property is on the north side of Washington Street and 88 feet east of Main Street in North Webster.
The petition was denied by the BZA.
Stimmel wanted to use the new expansion as an entrance to the business and to expand seating. He also would like to add a "boutique," but there would be no retail sales.
Two remonstrators opposed the petition because of the nature of the business, which is a topless dance club.
The denial was given because the BZA believed the business would be moving further from compliance with the Sexually Oriented Business ordinance, which prohibits sexually oriented businesses from being too close to schools or churches.
In other business, the BZA:
• Approved Damien Carboneau's petition for a variance to permit allowing an existing commercial building to remain as placed 33.4 feet from the east road right of way. The property is on the south side of CR 400N and zero feet west of Old 15 in Plain Township.
• Approved James Honshell's petition for a variance to permit allowing a swimming pool to remain 7 feet from the west property line and 13 feet from the rear property line. The property is on the south side of Springfield Drive and north of Walnut in Wayne Township. The BZA also approved a $200 settlement against Honshell for building the pool without a permit first. If Honshell does not agree to the settlement, the BZA could take the matter to court.
• Denied Robert and Judy Bretz' petition for a variance to permit allowing an undersized tract 10,000 square feet when the ordinance requires 15,000 square feet and road frontage only 60 feet. The property is on the southeast side of Snyder Road and 2,113 feet east of CR 700W in Harrison Township.
• Approved Ruth Lilly Nicholas' petition for a variance to permit a second residence on one tract of ground with no hardship. The property is on the south side of Eli Lilly Road and zero feet northeast of Lake Wawasee in Turkey Creek Township.
• Continued to August Robert Bell's petition for a variance to permit allowing a general snack bar on a property with an existing marina. Additional parking is to be provided on adjacent lots. The property is on the southeast side of Hatchery Road and 123 feet southwest of Hiawatha Lane in Turkey Creek Township.
• Continued to August Tom Finlinson's petition for an exception for the purpose of the change and alteration to a previously granted exception by allowing the entrance to be left entirely open and not limited as a condition in a commercial district. The property is on the east side of Hatchery Road and zero feet north of Hatchery Road in Turkey Creek Township.
Members of the county BZA are Vic Virgil, Charlie Haffner, Bob Beer, Walter Church and John Conley. They meet at 8:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the Justice Building meeting room.
