Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Preferred Development, Chicago, will bring its request for a use variance to build a Walgreens Drug Store before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday.
The company wants to build the store at the southwest corner of Argonne Road and Center Street, which is a residential area. Retail uses are not permitted in residential areas.
Currently, the property is a mix of single-family homes and a former nursing home. The entire block would be demolished to build the 14,560-square-foot structure with 71 parking spaces.
The project was first brought before the Warsaw city council March 17. Discussion about the project revolved around rezoning the area commercial rather than allowing a use variance.
Filing the petition with the BZA takes less time than submitting a rezoning request through the plan commission and city council.
Redevelopment of the site also affects realignment of the Center Street, Parker Street and Argonne Road intersection, a project the city has studied for a couple of years.
Walgreens is willing to donate any right of way required to facilitate the street reconstruction.
An engineer has been retained by the city to conduct a traffic study to determine the exact alignment of the intersection. The study will not be available for perhaps two months. A traffic study for the Kroger gas kiosk was conducted about a year ago.
The BZA also will hear GBC Media's request to install a 499-foot-tall communications tower.
The request initially was heard at the March meeting, when board member Dan Hampton suggested the item be tabled until June 23, which the board unanimously approved.
The media group intends to erect a new wireless communication facility. Currently, there are three 297-foot towers on the 7.5 acre property, zoned R-1, at 1225 Country Club Drive. The smaller towers would remain.
In March a number of area residents attended the meeting to express their concerns about present and future "radio" interference in their homes. Brian Walsh, also of GBC Media, said the higher tower would lift the signal, reducing and unasked for noise or static picked up in telephones, televisions or other electrically operated equipment.
Other concerns were addressed by Turner and Brian Walsh, also of GBC Media, after the meeting was adjourned.
In other business the board:
• Will hear a request by Valentine, Miner and Lemon Law Office, 603 N. Parker Street to add a 2,700 addition to an existing professional office.
• Hear a request by Sandra Gossman of American Hearing Center, 413 S. Scott St., to erect a freestanding sign, 11 feet in height, in an R-2 district.
The BZA meets at 7 p.m. Monday in city hall.
