Board approves ‘Hope’s Landing’ multifamily project with conditions after neighbors raise stormwater, traffic and lighting concerns

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals on an unnamed meeting date approved an exception to allow a 40-unit multifamily development called Hope’s Landing on a 4.2-acre parcel off Old U.S. 30, contingent on conditions addressing stormwater control, screening, lighting and traffic improvements and coordination with the City of Warsaw.

Developers represented by Christine Deutscher of Neighborhood Development Associates asked the board for an exception to permit multifamily units in a residential district. The applicant said the project would seek funding in July, start construction in 2026 if funded and would include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units served by municipal sewer and water from the City of Warsaw.

The project drew multiple public comments from nearby residents who said they worried about stormwater runoff, increased traffic at the Old 30 approach, light spill from parking areas, impacts to nearby wildlife and reductions in property values. Residents asked how stormwater would be handled and whether the development would be tied into Gates Creek or other local drainage.

County staff and the project architect said soil borings had been done, that the site generally drains north-to-south and that the design team planned a stormwater detention/retention basin sized to hold a required design storm on site. The applicant committed to working with county and city engineers on detailed stormwater and road improvements, and the architect said the development would likely require extending decel/accel lanes and meeting city stormwater and sewer requirements before a building permit could be issued.

After hearing neighbors’ concerns and technical comments, the board approved the exception with conditions that will be written into the approval. The conditions, as stated on the record, include—but are not limited to—finalized engineered stormwater controls acceptable to county/city engineers, on‑site screening or a green buffer between the project and adjacent properties, full cut‑off/down‑directed site lighting to avoid light spill across property lines, and traffic/access improvements such as turn/accel/decel lanes if required by the city or county engineers. The board also required that the project coordinate sewer and other utility work with the City of Warsaw prior to permitting.

The board member motioned to approve the exception with those conditions; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The approval does not authorize construction until the applicant obtains all necessary engineering approvals, permits and any city approvals required for sewer and roadwork. The board’s action was an approval of the zoning exception only; subsequent technical reviews and permit approvals remain required.

Why it matters: The approval allows construction of 40 rental units designated to be affordable to households at or below a percentage of area median income, according to the applicant, and places responsibility on the developer to resolve drainage and access concerns that neighbors said could affect adjacent properties.

Next steps: The applicant said it will submit funding applications this month and, if funded, return with final engineered plans for county and city review before building permits are issued.