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Kosciusko County BZA approves several variances, denies or continues others
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a series of variances and exceptions, denied one petition, and continued several others for more information or to allow applicants to resolve outstanding issues. Key contested matters were continued or resulted in conditions.
Kosciusko County's Board of Zoning Appeals on an undated meeting day took action on more than a dozen petitions, approving several variances and exceptions, denying one and continuing multiple petitions to give applicants time to resolve technical or access questions.
The board front‑loaded approvals that had little discussion and sent contested or incomplete items back for follow‑up. Several approvals included standard permitting requirements or additional conditions (for example a $125 flood/improvement location permit fee on one lakeside deck variance). Several petitions were continued to the board's October 14 or November meeting dates to allow applicants to secure surveys, easements, highway‑department input or other documentation.
Votes at a glance - Exception 202567 (Kevin Carr, auto repair in an I‑2 district): continued 60 days (to November) while the petitioner pursues voluntary annexation and sewer hookup with the city. - Exception 202578 (Lamar Boston, storage/warehousing in an Ag district): continued 30 days to allow survey/easement work and negotiations with an adjoining owner. - Exception/variance 202581 (Chad Bollingbacher): denied for lack of required site plan and neighbor outreach. - Variance 2025216 (Duane Chubb, lakeside deck): approved; petitioner must obtain an improvement location permit and a flood permit; permit fee $125. - Variance 2025224 (Andrew Rotor, pergola/platform/stairs and privacy louvers at a condominium regime): approved as presented. - Variances 2025227 & 2025228 (Michael Zimmerman, lakeside gazebo/pergola and a shed): hearing produced divergent testimony; the board voted to require removal of the gazebo/pergola and denied the proposed shed (see separate article for details). - Exception 202590 (Barker Storage — outside storage on portions of an existing storage complex): approved with conditions noted by staff. - Variance 2025233 (Lisa Bender, existing AC unit setbacks): approved as presented. - Variance 2025235 (David Swihart, lot with no owned frontage accessed only by easement): approved; board noted risk of unresolved deeded easements and recommended documenting a deeded easement to prevent future access disputes. - Exception 202592 (Katie Robinson, home‑based auto repair): approved; petitioner was told to verify driveway/driveway permit with the highway department prior to construction. - Variance 2025239 (Lisa Mills, replacement shed placement): approved; applicant reminded to secure permits before construction. - Exception 202594 (Marcella Manns / Easy Hand Automotive, home‑based auto repair): continued 30 days for the applicants to present a written plan addressing outdoor storage, vehicle staging, environmental controls and cleanup; neighbors had raised safety, burning and visual concerns. - Exception 202595 and Variance 2025241 (Isaac Miller, home‑based construction business and 60‑sq‑ft sign): continued 30 days to provide an updated site plan, show deliveries/turnaround for trucks and consult with the highway department to resolve safety/turnaround concerns. - Exception 202596 and Variance 2025243 (John Jackson, oversized accessory building 30×36): approved with conditions; the board required a 10‑foot setback (rather than the requested 6 feet) and required the applicant to submit a building design that is residential in appearance for staff approval before a permit is issued. - Exception 202597 (Gregory Harden, expand hours and overflow parking for a pick‑your‑own flower business): approved; the board required a recorded covenant combining the contiguous overflow parcel with the house parcel for the duration of the business use and asked that the driveway/access be coordinated with the highway department.
Why it matters Local zoning approvals affect property uses, neighborhood character, emergency access and floodplain or right‑of‑way safety. Several items the board continued involved easements, highway‑department approvals or flood‑permit issues; the board repeatedly noted that unresolved easement or access issues can create long‑term legal and maintenance problems for property owners.
The board gave applicants a mix of approvals and conditions intended to balance property‑owner improvements and neighborhood impacts. Items with significant neighbor opposition or open engineering questions were typically continued to give petitioners time to fix documentation or propose mitigation.
