Kosciusko County zoning board approves a slate of variances and a home‑business exception

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a series of variances and one exception at a public hearing, allowing multiple property alterations, accessory structures and a home‑based business to proceed with conditions.

Many petitioners asked to keep ponds, porches, decks, garages or sheds closer to road rights‑of‑way, property lines or water edges than county zoning setbacks permit. Board members regularly approved the requests "as presented," commonly requiring documented neighbor sign‑offs, permit applications within the county’s 30‑day guideline and site stabilization or non‑expansion conditions.

Why it matters: These approvals change how individual properties may be used or developed and may require follow‑up permits, notary‑signed affidavits from adjacent property owners and state or county commercial compliance for businesses operating from residential parcels.

Actions and conditions - Continuance variance 202597 (petitioner: Jeffrey Katzur): Board approved allowing an existing pond to remain 70 feet from an adjacent agricultural property where the ordinance requires 200 feet. Approval included: a neighbor affidavit signature requirement, a prohibition on further excavation or expansion into wetlands, stabilization of soil/sedimentation piles around the pond and an after‑the‑fact permit fee. The record notes contact with IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management); IDEM indicated it would not pursue enforcement so long as the pond is not expanded. The hearing officer said a permit fee…