Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Say good-bye to the Warsaw Drive-In after this year.
The drive-in may be demolished to help make room for multi-family condominiums.
Mathew Heiman petitioned the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Wednesday to rezone 40 acres, including the land where the drive-in is, from a commercial and agricultural district to a residential district. The property is on the north side of Old Road 30 West and 100 feet west of Hartzler Street in Wayne Township.
"It's time for the drive-in to come down," Heiman said.
Connie Mallers-Heiman, Mathew's mother and president of the company that owns the theaters in Warsaw, said, "We've run it as long as we can for everyone." Asked why they decided to tear down the drive-in and build condominiums, she said, "It's time for a change and we want to do something different with that property."
County Surveyor Richard Kemper said that regardless of how the property is rezoned, drainage will be critical. He said he was concerned about storm water control on-site and the integrity of the Ponderosa subdivision, which adjoins the property.
Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said, "We would recommend, since you're coming off Old 30, that you hire a consultant to look at (your plans)."
He said he would like to see a detailed drainage plan and possibly an acceleration and deceleration lane from Old 30.
"All residential lots would have to come off interior lots and not off Old Road 30," Ladson said.
Remonstrator George Fish said he was concerned about access. He also said three neighbors did not receive certified notice.
APC Director Dan Richard said, "They did notify all those on the list that was provided."
Laura Alexander, remonstrator, said her biggest concerns were drainage and traffic congestion.
"If anyone's ever been down Old Road 30 at seven o'clock, it's very hard to get out," she said.
Nancy Weirick also said her concern was about traffic congestion. She said since the Warsaw Drive-In will be torn down, it may not be as big a problem as it once was on weekends.
Mathew Heiman said drainage problems and traffic concerns will be worked out with the proper people as best as possible.
APC member Charlie Haffner said, "The questions of traffic and drainage will be dealt with. This deserves to be zoned residential."
The entire board agreed, approving the petition 6 to 0.
Only one case out of all nine rezonings, preliminary plat approvals and final plat approvals failed to receive unanimous approval.
A petition by Bryan and Brad Thomas to rezone 12.89 acres on the north side of Hepton Road and west of CR 900W in Scott Township from agricultural district to an agricultural II district was continued until the APC's June 2 meeting.
Remonstrator Roxanne Miller's parents owned the property originally. She said she opposed the petition because "I would like it to stay farmland. I think we're gobbling up too much farmland."
Richard said, "That area up there has some of the best producing soils in the county."
Thomas & Thomas want to rezone the property to create more housing for the Amish in the area, they said.
"Anyone who goes through that area knows that's an Amish area," Haffner said. He said the need for more Amish housing is one reason he is in favor of the petition. The other, he said, is because several nearby acres are already rezoned residential.
In other cases, a petition by Dennis Shumaker for preliminary plat approval for an agricultural II development on a 1.17 acre tract of ground was approved unanimously. The property is on the north side of CR 100S and east of CR 325E in Wayne Township.
Robert Barth Jr.'s petition for preliminary plat approval for a residential development on a 12.12 acre tract of ground was approved 6 to 0. The property is on the south side of CR 450N and west of Bayshore Drive in Plain Township.
John Kimpel, PES & Associates, representing Barth, said Barth plans to develop only 11 lots for now, but may do other development later.
Much of the original development was downsized, Kimpel said, because of heavy remonstration.
"He's very willing to work with the neighbors," Kimpel said.
