Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Plan Commission Monday approved a final plat for a subdivision.
The subdivision is on the southwest side of Warsaw, and will be the third section of Park Ridge Subdivision.
It will extend Nuthatch Drive to the west and contain 25 lots, making up more than 19 acres of single-family homes.
A new street called Laurelwood Avenue will be created. The subdivision consists of 25 of the four lots in the preliminary plat.
In other business, the commission continued discussion on the city’s sign ordinance.
Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner presented commission members with an up-to-date draft sign ordinance at its March 12 meeting. He asked the commission to review the ordinance and contact him with any suggestions, changes or errors.
The commission reviewed the sign ordinance Monday night.
A public hearing on the sign ordinance is May 14. Warsaw City Council will need to approve the sign ordinance.
“I want to be business friendly and pro business, but want signs to be aesthetically pleasing,” Mike Klondaris, commission member, said.
Commission member Jeff Grose said the city is trying to develop a sign ordinance that meets the needs of the city, residents and business owners.
“We are trying to paint a picture for the community to follow, and for those who don’t follow the sign ordinance, decide if they are causing a nuisance,” Grose said.
Commission member Rick Keeven said those who violate the city’s sign ordinance are often long-time offenders who leave up banners after the alloted time.
The sign ordinance proposal states, for residential districts, one monument sign is permitted at each primary entrance to a subdivision, apartment complex or other residential development.
The sign must not exceed 16 square feet in area and 4 feet in height.
For the professional services zoning district, one monument sign is permitted at each primary entrance to a subdivision, apartment complex or other residential development.
The sign may be externally lit.
For medical districts and commercial neighborhood districts, the ordinance states one sign is permitted per lot and one temporary sign is permitted per lot.
The proposal states one wall sign is permitted up to 1.5 square feet in area per linear foot of road frontage up to a maximum of 25 percent coverage.
Keeven suggested the sign coverage be clarified to include a sign to a maximum of 25 percent coverage and state the sign coverage is for the wall the sign is on.
For an intense commercial district, the proposal states one temporary sign is permitted per lot.
For downtown districts, the proposal states projecting signs may not exceed 24 square feet in area.
In addition, one sidewalk sign is permitted for each business. It must be placed so as to not block the flow of movement on the sidewalk and may not exceed 8 square feet in area.
For C-5 commercial districts, one free-standing or monument sign is permitted for every frontage on a public road.
For industrial districts, one monument sign is permitted for every frontage on a public road.
There is 120 square feet maximum area per individual sign allowed with 12 feet maximum height.
