Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals has cleared the way for The Magical Meadows, 3386 E. CR 525N, Warsaw, to expand its services.
At its meeting Tuesday, the BZA granted the therapeutic horseback riding facility's request for a variance.
Kosciusko County Area Plan Director Matt Sandy said the county had given Magical Meadows an exception to operate as a home-based business in 2012.
"At that time, the operator was living on the property, and that was how we approved it," he said. "We opened the door for the therapeutic horseback riding and everything that went with it as a home-based business. Since that time, the owner has moved off the property, which leads us to change (it being) a home-based business."
Sandy said Magical Meadows was seeking the new use of commercial recreation.
He said the facility also wanted to put up two new barns, which "will go on the east and west property." A chapel on the property will also be moved to a different location on the property.
Representing Magical Meadows was Kerry Schoeph with design firm MSKTD & Associates of Fort Wayne.
"Magical Meadows provides therapeutic horseback riding for both adults and children with all abilities," he said. "They also provide social healing for first responders and veterans. They have really around about 30 participants per day."
Schoeph said with the new buildings Magical Meadows will have "a staff of about 14 to 20 employees within the next five years."
The new 14,000-square-foot barns will have horse stalls, riding arenas, bathrooms and tack rooms among other things. Schoeph said the current barn at Magical Meadows will be moved to the north side of a ditch.
"We're also looking at updating some of the utilities for the site (and upgrading or expanding the) septic system," he said.
Wells will be added or updated for the project and a detention pond put in. Schoeph said the project should start in September or October and "last about six to nine months."
In response to a question from Sandy, Schoeph said more parking spaces would be added as well.
Speaking in support of the project was Magical Meadows' board member and volunteer Keith Reinholt.
He was one of those from either the facility or emergency services who participated in a rocking chair event on Aug. 7 to raise money for the project.
"I became a volunteer about two years ago out there and ... I had no idea about the impact this place makes until I got out there and started working alongside them," said Reinholt.
He emphasized one of the arenas will be used for first responders and veterans, "and we just see a real need in our community to address that."
"Horses are more like magic than I ever dreamed that they would be," said Reinholt.
The BZA unanimously approved the variance.
In other business, the board:
• Continued requests for an exception and a variance brought by Kevin Carr to its next meeting, set to start at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 in the Kosciusko County Justice Building's basement, so he can check with the Kosciusko County Health Department about sewer at the property. He's wanting to have his auto repair business in an Industrial 2 District at 3624 N. Ind. 15, Warsaw, which is also where a financial business is located.
• Approved a variance request from Jason Grafton to allow a gazebo to remain as placed on a platform without permits 6 feet from the north channel and 17 feet from the lake water's edge at 36 EMS B51A Lane, Pierceton. Grafton must still pay fees, including a $600 settlement or amount per day his property wasn't in compliance.
• Approved a variance request from John and Margo Layman allowing a residential addition to stay 26 feet from the water's edge at 25 EMS B13 Lane, Pierceton. They must also pay associated fees.
• Approved allowing Lamar and Vonda Mast to split their property at 8400 W. 1050N, Nappanee, into two parcels with a home on each. The property must still be rezoned.
• Approved two variance requests from Keith McGrath allowing a front porch 1.6 feet from the east property line and a 12.4 foot-by-8-foot fence to be placed 3 feet from the east property line. The property is at 1777 Chapman Lake Drive, Warsaw.
• Approved a variance request from Patty Wolfe for a 6-foot-tall fence where a 3-foot fence is allowed. Wolfe must move the fence to allow for a drainage easement. The property is at 1207 Dresdin Drive, Warsaw.
• Approved a variance request from Matthew Klabisch allowing a deck and pergola to stay as placed on the west property line at 8764 E. Hatchery Road, Syracuse. He must pay a permit fee for the pergola and address a drainage issue.
• Denied a variance request from Susan Degenkolb for allowing a 20-foot-by-12-foot shed on a lot without a residence in a Residential District on the east side of Caldwell Lake Drive and south of CR 750S in Clay Township.
• Approved a variance request from Patricia Conery for building a carport 3 feet from the right of way of the road at 50 EMS C27C1 Lane, Warsaw.
• Approved a variance request from Richard Flora for a 6-foot-by-10 foot shed 7.5 feet from the west road right of way at 16 EMS D18C Lane, Syracuse.
• Approved a variance request from Thomas and Charlotte Hepburn for residential additions 12.6 feet from the right of way of the road, 8 feet from the west property line and 32 feet from the water's edge at 29 EMS C2 Lane, Warsaw.
• Dropped a variance request from Michael and Christi McElhaney for building a residential accessory structure 25 feet from the right of way of the road. The couple will have to petition with a different setback for the property at 248 EMS W17 Lane, North Webster.
• Approved variance requests from Lisa Bender for an 8-foot-by-10-foot shed to stay 5 feet from the south right of way and a residence addition and hot tub to stay 13.9 feet from the west right of way and 10 feet from the south right of way at 111 EMS D18C Lane, Syracuse. Bender must also apply for a permit and pay a $3,500 settlement or fees for the number of days her property wasn't in compliance.
• Approved a variance request from the Milligan Family for building a residential addition 20 feet from the right of way of the road, 3.2 feet from the north property line, 3.7 feet from the south property line and 26.3 feet from the water's edge at 11676 N. Sunrise Drive, Syracuse. A shed will be removed.
• Continued a variance request from Lamar Bost for him putting storage warehousing in an agricultural district on the west side of Old Ind. 15 south of CR 1300N in Van Buren Township. The request will come up at the board's Sept. 9 meeting, and Bost must communicate with his neighbors about the project and get a survey.
• Continued a variance request from Chad Bollenbacher until its Sept. 9 meeting for him to get a site plan. Bollenbacher wants to have motorized vehicle sales, service and repair in a Commercial District on the north side of CR 400N east of Ind. 13 in Tippecanoe Township.
• Denied a appeal on behalf of Katrina Kerlin who was trying to keep a cargo container for storage at 606 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake. She has until Jan. 1 to move the container.
