Kokomo board grants one-year variance to Midwest Farm Shop for mini farm store on Alto Road

The Kokomo Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 7 approved a temporary variance that allows Midwest Farm Shop LLC to operate a 12-by-20 on‑farm retail structure on a vacant lot east of 2600 Alto Road.

The variance, docketed as case PO1B25, waives a 360-square-foot minimum main-floor-area requirement (zoning ordinance section referenced in the petition) and grants a temporary waiver of the municipal water and sewer hookup requirement in the C-2 zone for up to one year under a memorandum of understanding with city staff.

Board staff presented findings recommending approval, saying the addition of a small farm store would “benefit the general welfare of the community by infilling a food desert area” and that there were no anticipated safety hazards associated with the reduced floor area or temporary septic/waste arrangement. "The approval will not be injurious to public health, safety, morals, or general welfare of the community," said Mister Sheelan, staff member, while reading staff findings.

Jared Orum, representing Midwest Farm Shop, told the board the business has operated for about six months as an on‑farm outlet and wants to move a mini barn retail operation to the Alto Road site to serve customers from Kokomo's south side. "We used to have a delivery service, but it just got to be too much... We decided to open a farm shop on‑farm," Orum said. He described the structure as a 12‑by‑20 building that will house freezers; all meat will arrive frozen from USDA‑inspected facilities and there will be no on‑site butchering or processing.

Orum and staff told the board the petitioner has discussed the plan with the health department and that the department is amenable to a temporary arrangement. The proposal includes a temporary portable restroom behind a picket fence with weekly or biweekly servicing and an eventual requirement to install a septic and a larger building if the business becomes permanent. Board members discussed parking and setbacks; Orum said the site will be surveyed and that the driveway will meet required offsets (he cited a 100-foot offset from the road while describing plans to work with a surveyor).

The board approved the petitioner’s motion to adopt staff findings and grant the variances by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript; the presiding officer announced the motion passed after the voice vote.

The temporary approval will be memorialized by a memorandum of understanding between the petitioner and city staff for up to one year. If Midwest Farm Shop seeks to remain after that period, the parties anticipate a larger permanent structure, a septic installation and full compliance with municipal water and sewer requirements.

Votes at a glance Case PO1B25 (Midwest Farm Shop LLC) — Motion to approve and adopt staff findings; mover: unnamed board member; second: unnamed board member. Outcome: approved by voice vote. (Transcript does not include a roll-call tally.)