Commission recommends rezoning on Pickwick Drive to Syracuse Town Council

The Kosciusko County Planning Commission recommended rezoning a 4.5-acre parcel on the north side of Pickwick Drive from agricultural to residential, and forwarded the recommendation to the Syracuse Town Council. The commission noted that much of the parcel is wetlands or floodplain and that the usable upland area is smaller than the total acreage.

Steve Snyder, speaking on behalf of the petitioner, told the commission the upland portion could yield approximately four 10,000-square-foot lots and that any final plat would include restrictions protecting wetlands and floodplain areas. "Any plat is going to contain on its face a restriction as to the use of any areas in the wetland and the fact that they can't be modified, and the restrictions on construction within the floodplain," Snyder said.

Staff and the technical committee flagged soils, wetlands and floodplain as constraints. The commission discussed traffic on Pickwick Drive and the proximity of an existing house at 703 Pickwick, which submitted a letter of remonstrance citing property values and traffic. Commissioners noted the area is served by public water and sewer and that the town council of Syracuse will make the final decision.

A motion to recommend rezoning passed on a voice vote. Planning staff said the recommendation will be sent to Syracuse Town Hall for the Syracuse Town Council meeting on March 18 at 6:30 p.m.