KOSCIUSKO — During the Kosciusko Board of Zoning Appeals meeting held Tuesday, May 14, the North Webster Community Library was approved for a variance which allows them to continue with plans to build a new location.

The variance allows construction of a new public use library 25 feet from the right-of-way of Main Street and 15 feet from the right-of-way of North Street. The variance also allows 43 parking spaces while the ordinance would normally require 150 parking spaces.

Ethan Yoder, representing the library, was present at the meeting and explained that there is an existing agreement with the North Webster Community Center that allows the library to use their parking lot for overflow parking when necessary. Yoder further explained that the presented setbacks were necessary to allow for an outdoor children’s area between the library and the community center.

It was noted that the town of North Webster submitted a “very supportive” letter to the board in favor of the variance request.

Removal of the old North Webster High School is taking place now and construction on the new library is expected to begin in August.

A lengthy discussion was also held regarding an exception request to allow wedding/banquet facilities in an agricultural district.

The exception is for the property at 8916 W. SR 14. The petitioner Tricia Gohring is in the process of buying the property, contingent on use-approval. Four neighbors came to the meeting to express concern over the noise and traffic produced by the suggested business. There was also concern regarding the agricultural use and smells of the area being a deterrent for business customers. Gohring was instructed to get together with the neighbors to see if conditions could be agreed upon and the request was continued until the next meeting.

The next Kosciusko Board of Zoning Appeals meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 11.

In other news, the board also:

• Approved a variance for 55 EMS B31 Lane, Warsaw. The variance request from last month was removed and the petitioners supplied a new plan which included 15-feet setbacks from both the channel and the road.
• Approved an exception and a variance for 131 EMS C17 Lane, Warsaw, owned by William Wohead. The approvals allow for an oversized accessory building to be built within 29 feet of the water’s edge and 24 feet from the road’s right-of-way.
• Approved a variance for 6180 E. Elwood St., Syracuse, owned by Nancy Pickens. The variance allows for the addition of a second story to an existing garage that is within 36 inches from the west sideline and 58.8 inches from the right-of-way. It was noted that the second story will follow the same footprint of the existing garage. Conditions to the approval restricted the new residence to only overflow guests to the main house and that there is to be no parking of boats or other vehicles in the street’s right-of-way.
• Approved a variance for 706 S. Mill St., North Webster, owned by Daniel Howard. The variance allows for the construction of a residence 22.9 feet from the north right-of-way with a second story deck 13.5 feet from the north right-of-way.
• Continued a variance request for 10713 N. Southshore Drive, Syracuse, owned by Keith Busse. The variance requests the construction of a new residence 18 feet from the right-of-way and five feet from the south sideline. Board members hoped that the plan could be reworked so the plan improved towards compliance.
• Approved a variance request for Shankster Brothers located at 7780 East CR 500N, North Webster. The variance allows a new storage building with an office and storage yard built inside a commercial district. A condition was placed on the approval for the installation of landscape screening around property lines to block visibility from nearby residences.
• Approved an exception and a variance for 13275 N. Eastshore Drive, owned by Larry Allen. The approvals allow for an oversized accessory building to be built within 20.4 feet from the right-of-way and 2.23 feet from the south property line. The existing accessory building was damaged in a fire and the new building will be built on the existing foundation. A condition was placed on the approvals that no outside storage would be permitted on the south side of the building.