The Kosciusko County Plan Commission voted to recommend that the county commissioners deny petition Z202524, a request to rezone a 39.77-acre tract from agricultural to AG-2 intended to enable one-acre residential lots. The commission’s recommendation against rezoning followed extended debate on development policy and infrastructure constraints.

Supporters, represented at the hearing by attorney Steve Snyder, said the parcel’s proximity to existing AG-2 zoning and State Road 19, combined with demand for housing, made the request reasonable. "We need a place for affordable housing… and the owner wants to realize on the investment he's made over a lifetime," Snyder said during the presentation. He also said the parcel could support one-acre lots with well and septic systems and pointed to a county-commissioned affordable-housing study provided to the commission.

Opponents and several commission members raised procedural and policy concerns. Commissioners cautioned that approving the rezoning could prompt similar requests along the same corridor and described the application as potential "spot zoning." Commissioners also emphasized the county comprehensive plan and long-standing policy to avoid converting tillable agricultural acreage to residential use unless served by sewer; one commissioner said, "it's going to open up many, many other similar requests." Health and technical staff flagged possible constraints from soil types, existing tile drainage, and the need for engineering to size septic and drainage systems. A resident, Earl Mast, said neighbors had limited notice and expressed concern about scale and uncertainty about the current owner.

After discussion the commission moved to recommend denial; the motion was seconded and carried. The planning commission’s recommendation — a negative, do-not-rezone recommendation — will be transmitted to the Kosciusko County commissioners for a final decision at their hearing on October 21 at 09:00 in this room.

The commission record shows the item generated substantial public and internal debate about how to balance housing needs, agricultural preservation, the limits of on-site septic, and expectations of long-term landowners. Commissioners noted that engineering and developer interest could change the specifics but said policy implications required careful consideration before granting a rezoning of that size.

Next steps: the county commissioners will receive the planning commission’s recommendation and consider the rezoning request at their scheduled meeting; no final zoning change occurred at this planning commission meeting.