Michael Wilson, left, appears before the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Seated are, from left, Kevin McSherry, Lee Harman, Area Plan Director Matt Sandy, Randy Cox and Ron Robinson. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals has OK’d a request to keep chickens in a zoned residential area near Lake Sharon.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the BZA heard from Michael Wilson.

He lives at 2380 E. 250S, Warsaw. Wilson came before the board to have up to 12 chickens with no roosters in an outbuilding by his home.

Wilson noted he didn’t realize he was in a residential area when he bought the property as the land was “out in the country.”

“I’ve got chickens surrounding me. I’ve got corn surrounding me. I’ve got horses and cows (nearby),” he said.

“I put the horse before the cart in a residential area,” Wilson added of bringing chickens in.

BZA Member Lee Harman noted Wilson’s property “is out in an area where it is fairly remote.”

He added there was no “commercial poultry production” in that area of the county, so bird flu spreading wouldn’t be a problem.

The BZA granted Wilson’s request, but stated he needed to pay the fee to apply for a permit. The BZA also approved having Wilson pay a $500 fee as Wilson indicated he knew he should have gotten a permit, but didn’t.

If Wilson doesn’t pay the additional fine, he could pay anywhere from $10 to $300 for each day he’s been noncompliant.

The BZA also:

• Continued two cases brought by Martin Zeitler due to wanting written documentation. At his property at 9729 N. Marine Key Drive, Syracuse, he wants a deck placed closer to the water’s edge than normally allowed to remain and air conditioner and generator to remain where they were placed.
• Approved a case brought by Daniel Rowe to allow a deck to stay as placed four feet from the right of way, four feet from the right side property line, two feet from the left side property line and 21 feet from the water’s edge. Rowe’s property is at 49 EMS W14B Lane, North Webster.
• Approved a case brought by LK Investments to allow a duplex on a smaller tract than allowed. The land is at 8982 E. Circle Drive South, Syracuse.
• Continued a case brought by Kiely Culberson to its next meeting as proper notification wasn’t made. The request is to make additions to a seasonal mobile home park at 103 E. Fourth St., North Webster.
• Approved a case by Myron Borntrager to allow a larger than allowed accessory building at 834 E. Northshore Drive, Syracuse.
• Approved a case brought by Gerald McGowen to do an addition onto a home at 5845 N. 450E, Leesburg, closer to the neighbors’ property line than allowed as long as the neighbors also account for making sure 10 feet is still between the properties.
• Continued a case brought by Phillip Harshman to allow a residence at 7735 W. Camabraw Park Lane, Akron, to be five feet from the westerly line, seven feet from the easterly line and 33.83 feet from the right of way as a land survey needs done.

The board’s next meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the basement of the Kosciusko County Justice Building.