WARSAW — Among the agenda items for the March 6 regular monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission in Warsaw was a rezoning petition for the Wawasee Community School Corporation. The school corporation wants to rezone a portion of the property its bus garage is located on off Kern Road, south of CR 1300N, from public use to agricultural for a large scale solar panel project.

A large scale solar panel project is not a permitted use on public use zoned property, but it is on property zoned agricultural. Matt Sandy, assistant planning director for the county, said specific details of the project were not revealed. Approval was recommended for the rezoning and the Syracuse Town Council will consider the petition at its Tuesday, March 19, meeting.

In other business, the planning commission approved a request for a 90-day moratorium on large scale commercial solar projects where power is sold back to energy companies. It was noted there has been talk of a large project in the Clunette area, though the APC has not yet been approached by anyone concerning such a project. The moratorium would not apply to the Wawasee school corporation project.

The county commissioners requested the moratorium and once it is signed at their March 19 meeting, the 90 days will go into effect. This will allow more time for the commissioners to study the county ordinance governing solar projects to see if it needs to be changed.

Also during the APC meeting, a road vacation petition by Chroma Properties was recommended for approval. It involves a private platted 20 foot roadway in the Martin Crow’s addition off Eli Lilly Road in Turkey Creek Township. A survey shows a structure is located on the plat. County commissioners will consider the petition at their March 19 meeting.

The APC approved a final plat for the Sandstone Ridge one-lot subdivision on CR 200W in Plain Township. And the deadline for completing the Candlewood Estates subdivision at CR 400S and Packerton Road was extended to July 1. A new surety bond must be on file with the county by March 15.