Zoners OK Fish Bait Variance, Deny Luggage Maker Variance
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday approved a fish bait vending machine variance and denied a variance for the manufacturing of luggage racks.
Petitioner Kim Frauhiger requested a permit to place a fishing bait vending machine behind the boat ramp on Smith Street in Warsaw.
Board member Bruce Woodward said he did not have a problem with the bait vending machine."To me this is an asset and benefits those who use the lake," Woodward said.
Frauhiger said the vending machine could be used 24 hours and would be internally lit.
"It is a refrigerated machine so it will keep bait cool, but not freeze in the winter," Frauhiger said.
The board denied a variance request from Dawn Hepler for a permit to allow manufacturing of luggage racks in a residential district at 710 N. Cook St., Warsaw.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner said commercial activity is not permitted in a residential district.
The property is on the edge of a neighborhood, south of Pike Lake and Beyer Park. To the west is Hire BMX park and a flood zone.
Hepler said the work would be done within a wooden garage.
Board member Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan said she had safety concerns with steel work being welded in a wood garage.
"I want to support entrepreneurship, but we are called to uphold the rules of a residential district," Rudisel-Jordan said.
A property owner who owns a home adjacent to the Cook Street property said she wants to see the residential-zoned district remain residential and not allow manufacturing.
"If we allow a variance to allow manufacturing in a single-family neighborhood zoned residential, then we are setting a precedent," said board member Rick Keeven.
Keeven made a motion to deny the variance and Woodward seconded the motion.
One of the rules the board reviewed for the zoning was the strict application for the terms of the zoning ordinance will not constitute an unnecessary hardship in the use of the property.
The board found the petitioner would need to prove that the residentially zoned district did not need to stay residential and they could not prove that, Rudisel-Jordan said.
Also during the meeting, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins swore in new member Sean Boylan. Boylan will replace Diana Rhoades, who resigned.
