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Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved a petition to rezone land for the town of Silver Lake Community Center during a meeting Wednesday.
Jim Hoch, with Hoch and Associates, went before the commission on behalf of the town. The petition was to rezone ground on the south side of High Street and east of Ind. 15, from a Residential District to a Public Use District, in Silver Lake. The property in question would be where the community center would be built.
Medard “Hugh” Murfin, Silver Lake Town Council president, spoke about the need in the community after the old school was shut down.
“This project is near and dear to the town,” said Hoch. “It’s a community center that’s been long needed and planned for. (Silver Lake Clerk-Treasurer) Tonya (Conley) has done a great job in acquiring federal funds, local funds, working with community foundations, and also the community … to fund this $3.8 million project. It will be about 13,000 square feet and will be a significant addition to the community.”
Kevin McSherry, commission vice president, asked where the old school sits in the community, and what kind of access there would be for emergency services. Conley noted that the only access off of High Street would be Poplar Street, which is an unapproved access. McSherry noted “red flags were waving with that” because there has to be more than one way in and out. Conley noted that they are looking at a five-year study and will focus on getting another access point put into the plan.
Murfin noted when the school was open, it was a place where children in the community could go after school. Since the building became dilapidated, there was no place like it for kids to safely be able to go. He stated that the town “wanted some place where everyone could come together,” and that the community center would be able to provide it.
The petition was approved.
In other business, Tina Owens, with John Kimpel and Associates Land Survey, represented Earl and Lauren Chupp. They were rescheduled from the June meeting and were petitioning to rezone 19.27 acres on the property of 8121 W. CR 1100N, Nappanee, from an Agricultural District to an Agricultural 2 District.
Owens stated that this would be so the current owners can make a two-lot minor subdivision of 5 acres with the old home, and the remaining 14 acres be for the new home. She also noted that the Chupps would like to have it separated “to make it easier for their kids to deal with” in the event of their passing.
“I struggle with these cases that have a second residence,” said Joe Irwin, commission member. “We’re looking at two years later and they want to rezone it.”
“And it could go down to 1-acre tracts,” said McSherry.
The Chupps’ petition was denied.
Other Business
• Ramon David Ortiz Hernandez, Pierceton, withdrew his petition.
• A vacation off of Lakewood Avenue in Winona Lake was approved. The vacation was for a plat that was never built on, and would facilitate new uses for the homeowners around, since currently they could not do anything with it.
• A vacation off of Sullivan Road in Leesburg was approved. The vacation was for a previous vacation of Shelf Drive and Bass Road that were no longer in use. While the homeowners around it kept up with the overgrowth, this would now help to give a better access to the water.
• Matt Sandy, Area Plan director, remarked that because of House Bill 10-05, they would be looking at a new ordinance amendment from the airport within the next month or two.
• Sandy was approached by the soil and water department for a grant application request that could potentially open a part-time position in the department to help enforce erosion regulation. The commission agreed that it would be a good idea to pursue it.
The next meeting of the Kosciusko County APC will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
