Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals reluctantly agreed Monday to allow the new county jail to encroach into the public right of way.
Kosciusko County commissioners are requesting to encroach into the public right of way by 20 feet along Washington and Main streets and 6 feet on Center Street with the jail expansion.
While the board approved the request, not all were happy about it.
"I have a hard time telling little "Joe Businessman" we won't allow him to encroach 6 feet into the right of way because we don't like his sign. But we'll let the county encroach 20 feet into the right of way because they're the county and we'd like to see that block developed," said board member Alan Clingan.
Board member Bruce Woodward said while he did not like that much encroachment into the right of way either, it was necessary for the county to build the new jail.
"I don't think we can tell the city's largest downtown employer no," he said.
Despite the reservations, the board unanimously approved the request.
In other business the board approved a use variance for Mike Gill at 214 S. Zimmer Road for the operation of a used car and furniture retail business in an industrially zoned area.
The board did require Gill to provide 22 paved parking places as a part of the approval.
The board also approved a request by Jerry Kralis for a second freestanding sign at 1900 Plaza Drive.
