By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Without any remonstrators, all three petitions before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, May 28, were quickly approved.

The first was a petition for a special exception to allow outdoor storage in an Industrial-2 zoning district at 1820 N. Detroit St.

Warsaw Assistant City Planner Jackson Longenbaugh said the petitioner will be leasing property from Anderson Greenhouse and plans to sell sheds. There will be multiple sheds sitting on the site for viewing by customers.

The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. There will be a shed used as the office located toward the front of the property, Longenbaugh said.

The recommendation from the planning department was that the variance could be ruled favorably.

Speaking on behalf of the petition, Larry Schlabach, LaGrange, representing Tru Point Backyards, said they think they’ll have about five vehicles a week stop by the lot. There are some online sales that happen, and buildings move on and off the site as they sell.

“The buildings on the lot are for sale, and we fill them as needed, so roughly between 20 to 30 buildings,” Schlabach said.

The petition was approved 4-0, with Board President Tammy Dalton absent.

Signtech Sign Services petitioned for a variance from development standards to allow an internally illuminated sign in a Residential-1 zoning district at 1010 S. Union St.

The owners are building an updated sign at the property to attract more business. Since the building is downhill from the road, it is often harder to see, according to Longenbaugh. The petitioner is transitioning from an externally illuminated sign to a new electronic message board for promotional content. The sign automatically dims.

The planning department’s opinion was that the variance could be approved.

Todd Lehman, Goshen, with Signtech Sign Services, said they were asked by Edgewood Dental to update their sign. The new sign will be no wider or taller than what’s already there.

“So it’s kind of all new, basically just eliminating all the old wood sign,” he said, adding it’s really not very big, especially compared to other signs within the city.

The board approved the request 4-0.

Finally, James and Linda Wentzel, 2118 Bluewater Drive, petitioned for a variance from development standards to allow a larger-than-permitted accessory structure in a Residential-1 zoning district.

The purpose for this structure is simply as an accessory, with no residential intent, according to Longenbaugh. The structure is currently on a separate lot than the home, but the petitioners are planning to join the lots soon, pending Tuesday’s decision.

The accessory structure will be about 4,200 square feet and a little over 28 feet tall.

The planning department’s opinion was that the variance could be approved, he said.

Board Vice President Rick Keeven wasn’t clear on why the variance was being requested in this petition. Longenbaugh explained the accessory structure was too large, both in square footage and height. The Wentzels also are adjoining the lots because an accessory structure can not be a stand-alone building on a property.

“So, they’re buying the lot to the north, building an accessory structure there and adjoining the lots,” Longenbaugh said.

Board member Dan Smith asked if the accessory structure was going to be custom-built, and James Wentzel said yes.

City attorney Scott Reust suggested the board, if they approve the petition, to condition the approval based on the lots being joined before the accessory building is built.

James Wentzel said they have lived in Warsaw for a little over a year and they really enjoy the city. They moved from Leiters Ford.

“The reason our structure is this size is because where we lived, I had a 40 by 60 and we’re planning on building another structure because I have several cars that I collect, so the garage part is going to be part of that. And then part of the structure is going to be a wood workshop. I inherited my dad’s woodworking equipment,” he said.

The backroom also will be big enough for a pool table.

To make neighbors happy with the building, he said it will look exactly like their house with vinyl siding and everything. It’s not going to look like a pole barn.

Jeff Johnson, board member, asked if there was going to be plumbing in the accessory building. There will be a bathroom.

The board approved the petition on the condition that the two lots are adjoined prior to the construction of the accessory building.