Church Conference Fencing Petition Tabled By BZA
North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church wants to put split rail fencing along its property at Epworth Forest in North Webster. But some nearby property owners have expressed concerns and appeared before the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday morning in Warsaw.
The North Indiana Conference submitted two separate petitions to the BZA. The first is asking for a variance to allow a 5-foot tall split rail fence to remain 2 feet from the edge of Wesley Lane on the east side of and allow the same fence to be extended along the property line with the existing fence.
The second petition asks for a variance to allow a 5-foot tall split rail fence to be located in line with existing adjacent fencing 2 feet from the edge of Wesley Lane, Asbury Lane and Susanna Lane. Both petitions were tabled for at least 60 days to allow property owners to try to work out an agreement with the church conference and also the county highway department.
Matt Sandy, assistant planning director for the county, said there are concerns the fencing is too tall and too close to the road and could create a safety hazard. Sandy noted for at least part of the fencing, there is no well defined road right of way. Several remonstrators spoke out against the petitions, he added.
In other business, the BZA denied a petition for Charles and Jill Baker to permit construction of an in-ground swimming pool 7 feet from the west right of way and 20 feet from the south right of way on EMS T5A Lane at the intersection with EMS T5 Lane in Tippecanoe Township. Sandy said the BZA had real reservations about the safety and compatibility of a pool being so close to the right of way.
Other agenda items included:
• The board tabled a petition for 60 days by Benjamin Ashpole to allow a slide to remain as placed on Wesley Lane, south of 11th Trail in Tippecanoe Township. It was determined the slide is considered play equipment, not a structure, and there should be no need for a variance, so it eventually may be dropped as a petition.
• The BZA reaffirmed its denial of a petition by Robert Dellen to permit construction of a screened porch 23 feet from the water’s edge on Ogden Point Road, southeast of Bishop Road in Turkey Creek Township. Dellen appealed the first denial, it was sent to court and then sent back to the BZA Tuesday.
• Mitchell and Vicki Holloway were granted an exception to allow an oversized accessory building to remain as constructed on EMS W26 Lane at the intersection with EMS W25 Lane in Tippecanoe Township.
• Terry and Kathy Sizelove were granted a variance to allow a shed to remain on EMS B61L Lane, east of EMS B61F Lane in Tippecanoe Township, but it must be reduced to 8 feet tall from 12 feet and the neighbor most impacted must approve it in writing.
• Calvary Tabernacle Church was granted a variance to allow a church in a commercial district on SR 15, north of Levi Lee Road in Plain Township. The church must comply with all state, federal and local regulations as a condition to approval.
• John and Delores Gregg were granted a variance to permit raising an existing garage on EMS B60 Lane in Tippecanoe Township.
• ABATE was granted an exception to have the annual Hawg Waller motorcycle event on Bruce Cavell’s property on SR 13, just south of CR 500N in Tippecanoe Township. Conditions attached to previous approvals still apply.