The APC denied one case and approved the others today, June 7. Pictured from left are board members Doug Ruch, Mike Kissinger and Kevin McSherry. InkFreeNews photos by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
Staff Writer

WARSAW — One case was denied and others approved at the regular meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Wednesday, June 7.

A final plat for phase one of the Eastfield subdivision in Milford was approved. The developer requested a surety bond of $359,886.75.

“We are under construction now,” said Tim Saylor of Miller East LLC, the developer of the project.

Now that the developer has a surety bond, permits for the new homes can begin to be pulled as soon as possible.

Edd Allen’s petition for an appeal was denied. He was requesting to amend self-imposed restrictive covenants associated to the rezoning request to originally rezone the property in question to commercial and, as amended through previous cases, by allowing modular homes sales and display as shown on the submitted site plan.

The property is located on the west side of SR 13, south of CR 400 North in Tippecanoe Township.

Allen’s attorney, Steve Snyder, said a traffic study was recently conducted. The results of the study noted the intersection is a safety risk. Snyder argued there’s not enough traffic to make it a safety issue.

“The site plan is also well constructed,” Snyder mentioned.

“I have safety concerns,” said board member Mike Kissinger, adding,“and so does the traffic engineer.”

While the county would not be liable or face a lawsuit if something did happen at the intersection, the board decided it was too risky for the public to be approved.

After considerable discussion, the board denied Allen’s request.

A petition for Ransbottom Family Farms, for a 41-lot residential subdivision, was approved. Derrick Ransbottom, who was at the meeting with his brother, Dan, requested preliminary plat approval for a residential development on a 20.6-acre tract of land. Some neighbors, who live nearby, said they opposed the plan. Most were concerned with more traffic.

One man stated there is “only one way in and one way out” citing he’s concerned with emergency vehicle access.

“I’m not against it but my only concern is the increase in traffic,” said Thelma Clark, who has lived at nearby Forest Glen since 1984.

The property is located on the north side of Stanton Road, east of Teeple Avenue in Plain Township.

A final plat for Hardy Acres, a two-lot agriculture II subdivision, was approved. The property is located on a 3.27 acre tract of ground.

The property, owned by Tom Hardy, is located on CR 700E in the southeast corner of the county. Hardy said he wants to add a couple of homes.

A vacation of a property was requested by Blake Palmer and it was approved. He is vacating a 16-foot alley on Old Road 30 in Atwood. The matter will go before the county commissioners at 9:15 a.m. June 20.

The county recently received the Hoosier Planning Award, said Matt Sandy, APC director. The award is for an Outstanding Comprehensive Planning for the Forward Kosciusko County Comprehensive Plan. The Indiana Chapter of the American Planning Association presented the honor to the county, K21 Health Foundation and Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

The next meeting is at 1 p.m. July 5.