County Plan Approves Two Petitions, Denies Rezoning Request

Kosciusko County Courthouse.

Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission met Wednesday, approving two petitions and recommending a denial of a rezoning request.

In the first case, several neighbors remonstrated against Tory Fehr’s petition to rezone 26.24 acres from a residential district to an agricultural district. The property is on the west side of Ind. 15, north of Dixie Drive in Lake Township.

Fehr said she wants to build a barn and add horses to the field for her own use.

The commissioners denied the petition, which will go before the county commissioners for a final decision.

Fehr was advised to seek a hearing through the board of zoning appeals, which could grant a special exception in a residential zone instead of rezoning the property. The special exception could also be limited for the time Fehr owns the property.

In the second case, Scott Anderson’s petition for a preliminary plat in an agricultural II subdivision on a 4.85 acre tract of ground was approved, splitting the property into two lots. The property is on the south side of CR 700N, 1,385 feet west of CR 300E in Plain Township.

In other business, the commissioners approved a right-of-way vacation request of 7th Trail extended, an undeveloped strip of land between Jason Nolley’s property to the east and Dustin and Gina Ruff’s property to the west.

The right-of-way is currently used as a driveway. The vacation is between Asbury Lane and Epworth Forest Road. The property will be split equally between the petitioners if given final approval by the county commissioners.

Currently, the plan commission is short one member as Chuck Haffner resigned two months ago. Haffner was appointed by the Syracuse Town Council.

Plan commissioners are Dr. Lee Harman, Mandy Espinoza, Jon Garber, Mike Kissinger, Bob Conley, Lee Harman, Doug Ruch, Kevin McSherry and Larry Coplen.