Webster Lodge Denied Exception For Specialized Use
KOSCIUSKO — The Webster Lodge was denied an exception of allowing a motel for specialized clients in a commercial district during the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on March, 12.
The proposed use of the Webster Lodge, 811 S. Main St., would provide housing for men recently off of alcohol or drug treatment. The program, called Above The Waves, was represented by Attorney Steve Snyder, Chris Cotton and Joe Losee.
Snyder noted that the motel is currently allowed to house anyone who came to the motel and asked for a room. He stated that the only difference would be that with the proposed use, the men would be under surveillance and held accountable for their actions.
The Webster Lodge issue was addressed at the Feb. 12 meeting but was continued so until the North Webster Town Council was able to discuss the issue. The council met on Feb. 26 and no official motion was declared regarding the lodge. But afterward, each member of the council, the police chief and the town clerk submitted letters to the board. These letters were described by board members as “strong in opposition.”
It was noted that there were several other letters submitted that were both for and against the proposed use, there was also a petition of support that received multiple signatures. Based on the opinion of the North Webster Town Council, the BZA Board denied the exception.
In other news:
- Leesburg SR 13 Group was granted a variance to allow 30 parking spaces instead of 91 parking spaces at 4535 N. SR 13, a location of a future Dollar General.
- Michael Walters, 4249 S. Mallard Road, was approved to construct an enclosed garage 15 feet from the right-of-way and 4.5 feet from the property line.
- Silver Lake Storage, 808 N. Jefferson St., was approved to construct a storage warehouse in a commercial district. The current location already houses two storage warehouses.
- Vivian Stambaugh, 2345 E. SR 14, Silver Lake, was approved to allow a home-based business of holistic health consulting and retail sales of supplements in an agricultural district.
- Doug and Kim Hayes, 508 EMS D15 Lane, Syracuse, were approved to construct a new residence within 7.6 feet from the north sideline and 6.9 feet from the south sideline.
- Louis Dreyfus, 7344 S. SR 15, Claypool, was approved for an expansion to an approved ag processing use by allowing the addition of a cooling tower additive building and cooling towers. The board approved the expansion, noting that the advertisements were not sent correctly so if any remonstration was received the approval would be void.
- Lucky 7 Car Store, 4736 N. SR 15, Warsaw, was approved for an exception to allow an auto sales and service business in a commercial district.
- Elizabeth Forche, 10617 N. Lung Lane, Syracuse, was approved for a variance to allow construction of a new residence 20 feet from the right-of-way.
- Alpha Building Center, Nappanee, was approved for an exception to allow a steel fabricating/manufacturing business in a commercial district.
- Sam Leman, 7791 E. Cherokee Road, Syracuse, was approved to allow tracts of land and their lake frontage split.
- Robin Snyder, 197 EMS T26 Lane, Leesburg, was approved for a variance allowing the alteration of a non-conforming guest house 19 feet away from the right-of-way and .75 feet from the north property line. It was noted that the work has already begun but stopped when the property owners realized they needed a permit.
- Wawasee Community School Corporation was approved for a variance at Milford Elementary School, 109 S. Elm St. The variance allows installation of a large solar energy field within 6 feet of the east and west property lines and 6 feet within the souther right-of-way.