September 8, 2018
Indiana

County eyes wind-turbine rules

Mark Howe, Times-Union Staff Writer | 9/7/2018 | timesuniononline.com

Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday requesting county commissioners adopt a moratorium on the acceptance of any applications for wind turbines and related equipment.

The plan commission also passed a motion to proceed with adoption of new ordinances regulating the placement of both solar and wind energy systems.

The move came after Lynn Studebaker encouraged the board to recommend either banning outright or putting stronger regulations on industrial wind turbines during its August meeting. She cited declining property values, quality of life, environmental and remediation issues during her 45-plus-minute presentation.

In other business, the commission voted 7-1 to deny a proposed road vacation between subdivisions on North Ideal Beach Drive near Syracuse.

Monica M. Weigand petitioned the commission to vacate a 24-foot-wide road that runs between subdivisions and homes numbered 11140 and 11136 N. Ideal Beach Drive. There was considerable discussion on the matter before the commission voted.

The matter will now go before the county commissioners at its Sept. 18 meeting, where that board will decide on the vacation request.

The plan commission recommended the commissioners approve the following petitions:

• Indiana University Foundation’s preliminary plat to subdivide a 5.5-acre tract of land in Oswego, directly to the west of the cemetery on Second Street.

• Ronald J. and Deborah K. Hudson’s request to divide a residential plot into two plots of the southeast side of Ind. 25, south of Ferguson Road, Warsaw, provided the Hudsons file a proper affidavit of notice to the adjacent property owners with the plan commission office

• A request from the Shankster Brothers, a septic and farm drainage company, to rezone property on Jefferson Street, south of Sycamore Street, in Silver Lake, from agricultural to commercial.

• A one-lot subdivision request from Conservation Creek Woodlands and Wildland. A home will be built at the intersection of Natti Crow and Turkey Creek roads on the east side of Lake Wawasee near Syracuse.

A preliminary plat petition request from Dana and Kathy Cone was tabled. The Cones are looking to build houses on 6.35 acres of land on Washington Street, east of First Street, in Pierceton. The town asked the matter be tabled because of questions regarding utilities and roads on the land.

The plan commission’s next meeting is at 1 p.m. Oct 3 in the county courthouse, Warsaw.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/09/08/county-eyes-wind-turbine-rules/