Two petitions for use variances before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night met with different results. Carl Bevins’ request to put storage units at 506 Alward St. was denied after a pair of neighbors spoke up against it, but Harvey Hayes’ request for auto sales at 985 N. Lake St. was approved with no remonstration. Warsaw Assistant Planner Tim Dombrosky told the board that Bevins was requesting to use an empty residential property on Alward Street for storage units. “As far as the lots are concerned, I ... do see some challenges to the lot,” he said, noting the area is very difficult to run sewage and water to, specifically the two lots in question. Not only is a lot of water probably getting to the lots, Dombrosky said it’s difficult to get water in and out of them. Other concerns Dombrosky told the board about were street traffic on a “pretty minor street” and the residential area being lightly populated. Board member Rick Keeven asked Dombrosky if he had heard any complaints from neighbors, but Dombrosky said he hadn’t. Bevins told the board he owns not only the property in question but also the adjacent two lots. “I guess what I’m thinking is, all I am doing is mowing those two lots. I thought it might be a little income property for me if I put up a few storage units,” Bevins said. He said he would put up a maximum of 16 to 18 storage units, depending on the setbacks. He is having the property re-surveyed to figure out exactly where the setbacks are. Bevins also commented the units would be 10 feet by 20 feet, but if he can’t put up a minimum of 16 units because of setbacks, he’d just let it go. The units would be open 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dombrosky said the city’s planning department has a fairly good idea of what the property’s dimensions are and, “I think he can fit a maximum of 20 on the lot.” Paul Henning owns property to the south. After speaking with Bevins, he said his concerns were satisfied. But residents to the north at 503 Alward St., Gerhard and Sherry Koehlinger, spoke up against Bevins’ request. “Our house faces the empty lot. I’ve lived there for 29 years, and I’m so, so completely against this, making a commercial area in our residential area. It’s a quiet street, hardly any traffic. It is a residential area and that’s how I think it should stay, a residential area,” Sherry said. Gerhard pointed out there are two streets that access that area, neither of which are two-lane streets. There’s also a connecting street, which runs parallel to the railroad tracks. “It doesn’t really have good access for commercial traffic. And I know, I’m no city planner or anything, but I would have questions about storm drainage, increased lighting and of course I’m not opposed to increased police presence,” Gerhard said. Keeven asked board member Tammy Dalton, with her expertise, how would Bevins’ request affect area property values. “It’s not going to help. I don’t feel it would,” Dalton responded. She said she had concerns that the streets surrounding the property are one-way. Dombrosky said they weren’t legally one-way but they are narrow. “Any time an adjoining resident is against it, that weighs pretty heavily on me,” board member Jack Wilhite commented, and Keeven and Dalton agreed. In making her motion to deny Bevin’s petition, Dalton said if the board didn’t have adjoining neighbors against it, she wouldn’t be making a motion to deny the request. Starting the hearing for Hayes’ petition, Dombrosky said the request was for auto sales in a Commercial 2 district. Auto sales are permitted only in C-3 and C-5, which typically are along major thoroughfares. Dombrosky said in Warsaw, there are no C-3s or C-5s except along Ind. 15 and U.S. 30. He said it was “kind of an oddity” that there are no C-3s along Lake Street. Dombrosky pointed out there is an existing car lot to the south of 985 N. Lake St., which Hayes later pointed out was his. Dombrosky reminded the board that a major retailer, Big Lots, used to be north of the lot and C-5s are for the big box type of retailers. The C-2 would be appropriate for a car lot and he recommended the petition be approved. Hayes told the board he didn’t think it would be a problem to have a car lot right next door to his existing lot, and the lot in question used to be owned by a car dealer. Keeven asked if Hayes had any neighbors complain about his request. All the notification letters were sent out, Hayes responded, and no one complained to him. He said the lot has been empty for the last 30 years with a lot of trees and bushes. “It should improve the area, I would assume. It’s right next door to me so I can utilize it. Otherwise, it doesn’t have much use,” Hayes said. No one else spoke up for or against the petition. Dombrosky said Lake Street can handle the traffic. “It’s one of the three major thoroughfares in town that doesn’t have C-3 on it,” Dombrosky said. The board approved the petition.
