Decision On Easement Brings Questions
A decision by the Syracuse Town Council to approve an easement brought questions for a member of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission during the council’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.
The council approved a request by Patrick Industries to build a warehouse above an existing sewer line wile providing an easement so the town could get in to do repairs or replace the line should that become necessary. The easement is approximately 15 to 20 feet wide, the width of an alleyway that was vacated to permit the warehouse. The area is currently a parking lot.
During discussion from the floor, Larry Coplen, a member of the area planning commission, explained the commission vacated the alleyways pending town council approval. He suggested developers should handle utilities according to the town’s parameters.
Council member Larry Siegel explained a lot of research done by a council member and Clint Houseworth of Severn Trent, which operates the town’s water and wastewater plants, went into making the decision to allow construction of the building with an easement.
Coplen maintained the town has the authority to tell a developer to change utilities per its parameters and it should have been stipulated in its decision regarding the easement.
Council President Paul Stoelting explained there are no changes anticipated for the sewer line and the town isn’t taking on any more liability.
Houseworth explained the issue with Patrick Industries was not typical since the sewer line is already on private property. He pointed out Patrick Industries is using the property in good faith. If a developer comes in later and wants changes made to the zoning, then other considerations will be taken under advisement.
Siegel asked Coplen how he voted on the matter. Coplen admitted he voted yes on the request based on written confirmation from the Syracuse Town Council. Siegel said that information would have been helpful to have beforehand. Coplen pointed out Town Manager Henry DeJulia was at the meeting.
DeJulia stated the meeting was a few weeks ago and there where things to do (regarding the decision). He noted the planning commission needed to move quickly and the town looked at the situation. It saw some potential issues with water, but not sewer.
Coplen told the council Patrick Industries did not even have a legal description of what it wanted. “It was very unprofessional,” he said. He noted even DeJulia wasn’t sure what the company representatives were asking for. “Henry was in a very bad situation,” Coplen said explaining the issue was tabled briefly at the meeting so DeJulia could find out want Patrick Industries was asking for.