Posted on June 18, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Plans for the Starke County Forest’s new access road still have another hurdle to clear before construction may begin. The Starke County Park Board recently got $15,000 from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund to turn the forest’s existing access trail into a gravel road and add a parking lot.
During last week’s park board meeting, it was reported that Bob Aloi with Territorial Engineering has drawn up the plans. Now, they have to be approved by the county’s zoning board, according to County Attorney Marty Lucas. “The road’s narrower than the standard road for Starke County,” he explained, “and that’s okay because there’s no houses on it or anything, anyway. But because of that, it does require the zoning board to approve that change from what the normal minimum standard road is.”
That’s expected to occur when the Starke County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meet on Wednesday. In the meantime, the park board has decided to approve the plan on a preliminary basis, to allow construction to start as soon as the proper zoning permission is granted. The Starke County Commissioners have already agreed to let the County Highway Department do the construction work.
Showing posts with label Starke County Planning Commission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starke County Planning Commission. Show all posts
Monday, June 18, 2018
Friday, April 6, 2018
Starke County Commissioners Approve RV Ordinance
Posted on April 6, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson presented a proposed Recreational Vehicle Ordinance to the county commissioners this week which was previously recommended for approval by the Starke County Planning Commission.
Stephenson said the purpose of the ordinance is to provide standards for RV equipment utilized for temporary use without infringement upon residential properties.
RVs may be stored in the back yard on a property as long as it is owned by the property owner, properly plated with a current registration, and it is within a minimum of five feet from the rear lot line. The ordinance states that recreational vehicles shall not be occupied for temporary or permanent use as a dwelling. RVs are not to be permanently affixed to the ground as a principal or accessory structure on a lot in any zoning district. They may be used on a temporary basis, but not more than 72 hours at one time.
Stephenson said there were no objections to the ordinance during a public hearing recently held by the Starke County Planning Commission.
The Starke County Commissioners approved the ordinance as presented. A copy of the ordinance for review can be found in the auditor’s office at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson presented a proposed Recreational Vehicle Ordinance to the county commissioners this week which was previously recommended for approval by the Starke County Planning Commission.
Stephenson said the purpose of the ordinance is to provide standards for RV equipment utilized for temporary use without infringement upon residential properties.
RVs may be stored in the back yard on a property as long as it is owned by the property owner, properly plated with a current registration, and it is within a minimum of five feet from the rear lot line. The ordinance states that recreational vehicles shall not be occupied for temporary or permanent use as a dwelling. RVs are not to be permanently affixed to the ground as a principal or accessory structure on a lot in any zoning district. They may be used on a temporary basis, but not more than 72 hours at one time.
Stephenson said there were no objections to the ordinance during a public hearing recently held by the Starke County Planning Commission.
The Starke County Commissioners approved the ordinance as presented. A copy of the ordinance for review can be found in the auditor’s office at 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Starke County Commissioners Consider Request for Code Enforcement Officer
Posted on February 8, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson asked the commissioners for permission to hire a code enforcement officer.
Stephenson told the commissioners that he needs someone to help with investigating code and ordinance violations and “help clean up the county”.
According to the proposed job description, the code enforcement officer would work in the unincorporated areas of Starke County and respond to citizen complaints of related violations such as blight, garbage/refuse, weeds/grass, abandoned vehicles or any other violations. The officer will abide by code and ordinances. Field inspections will be handled by the code enforcement officer as well as maintaining files for status reports. The officer would report to the Starke County Planning Commission.
The position will be part-time with no benefits with a salary range of $10.43 to $12.50, not to exceed $17,500 a year.
Stephenson indicated that the county council did fund the position and that the officer is desperately needed.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request to hire a code enforcement officer.
Applications are available in the Starke County Planning Commission Office in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 at 53 E. Mound St. in Knox.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County Building Inspector Terry Stephenson asked the commissioners for permission to hire a code enforcement officer.
Stephenson told the commissioners that he needs someone to help with investigating code and ordinance violations and “help clean up the county”.
According to the proposed job description, the code enforcement officer would work in the unincorporated areas of Starke County and respond to citizen complaints of related violations such as blight, garbage/refuse, weeds/grass, abandoned vehicles or any other violations. The officer will abide by code and ordinances. Field inspections will be handled by the code enforcement officer as well as maintaining files for status reports. The officer would report to the Starke County Planning Commission.
The position will be part-time with no benefits with a salary range of $10.43 to $12.50, not to exceed $17,500 a year.
Stephenson indicated that the county council did fund the position and that the officer is desperately needed.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request to hire a code enforcement officer.
Applications are available in the Starke County Planning Commission Office in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 at 53 E. Mound St. in Knox.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Metro Recycling Responds to Residents’ Concerns with North Judson Transfer Station
Posted on November 1, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Concerns with a recycling transfer station planned for the North Judson area have led to a response from the company, as well as local economic development officials. Metro Recycling is currently moving ahead with a permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The company plans to add a recycling transfer station on Oakwood Street in the North Judson Industrial Park.
Metro Recycling CEO Neil Samahon says the transfer station will handle municipal solid waste. Meanwhile, asbestos, PCBs, hazardous waste, lead-acid batteries, tires, infectious waste, and bio-medical waste will all be prohibited from the facility, according to its IDEM application.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says the transfer station will actually be cleaner than other recycling centers around the county and more controlled than the Richard’s Disposal facility already in North Judson. “They’ve got things that they transfer between gondolas,” Weaver says. “They’ve got stuff that they dump on the open ground. And the people of North Judson are perfectly happy with that because they don’t think it bothers them. [Metro Recycling is] putting it on concrete with drains, where the drainage is going to be controlled, filtered, it’s going to go through oil separators and everything else and monitored.”
Weaver and Samahon note that the majority of the operations will take place indoors. Samahon adds that the waste received at the facility will generally come from within a 25-mile radius. Once it arrives, it will only be allowed to stay at the transfer station for a maximum of 24 hours. “That garbage has to turn around and go,” he says. “This isn’t a landfill. This isn’t somewhere where we can sit on garbage. It literally is a transfer station. The garbage comes in, and then it gets loaded into a transfer trailer, then goes out, and it heads to the landfill.”
Weaver says that before planning on the North Judson transfer station got underway, he arranged for several local officials to tour Metro Recycling’s existing facilities. “I then approached Ted Bombagetti, who was the director of emergency management in Starke County; Terry Stephenson, director of the county planning commission; and Dennis Estok, who was county surveyor at the time,” Weaver says. “They toured the facilities, and came back and reported to me that they were very clean. They were extremely impressed with the facilities. They were very neat and orderly, very clean. There was no junk laying around.” Weaver also notes that while steps are being taken to protect the local environment, the site of the proposed North Judson transfer station has been an industrial area for well over a century.
Samahon adds that a big goal of Metro Recycling is to help protect the environment by reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. “I’m not sure when it was bad to try to recycle,” he says. “And that’s the part that I don’t want to say frustrates me but I just kind of question. We’re trying to offer a benefit to the community by taking items because if it isn’t for facilities that are recycling, then we need to set aside more land for landfills, and I don’t think anybody’s going to be too happy about that.”
Samahon estimates that the new transfer station would create about five jobs initially. That could eventually increase to up to 15, depending on the success of the facility.
Metro Recycling plans to discuss the proposed facility with residents during Monday’s North Judson Town Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Town officials have announced that Monday’s meeting has been moved to the North Judson–San Pierre Junior/Senior High School Auditorium. The presentation will be for informational purposes only, since the proposed site actually sits outside of the North Judson town limits and out of the town council’s jurisdiction. However, Weaver says council members have been involved in the project for at least the past year.
If the process continues to move along as scheduled, the new transfer station could open in the summer of 2017.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Concerns with a recycling transfer station planned for the North Judson area have led to a response from the company, as well as local economic development officials. Metro Recycling is currently moving ahead with a permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The company plans to add a recycling transfer station on Oakwood Street in the North Judson Industrial Park.
Metro Recycling CEO Neil Samahon says the transfer station will handle municipal solid waste. Meanwhile, asbestos, PCBs, hazardous waste, lead-acid batteries, tires, infectious waste, and bio-medical waste will all be prohibited from the facility, according to its IDEM application.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says the transfer station will actually be cleaner than other recycling centers around the county and more controlled than the Richard’s Disposal facility already in North Judson. “They’ve got things that they transfer between gondolas,” Weaver says. “They’ve got stuff that they dump on the open ground. And the people of North Judson are perfectly happy with that because they don’t think it bothers them. [Metro Recycling is] putting it on concrete with drains, where the drainage is going to be controlled, filtered, it’s going to go through oil separators and everything else and monitored.”
Weaver and Samahon note that the majority of the operations will take place indoors. Samahon adds that the waste received at the facility will generally come from within a 25-mile radius. Once it arrives, it will only be allowed to stay at the transfer station for a maximum of 24 hours. “That garbage has to turn around and go,” he says. “This isn’t a landfill. This isn’t somewhere where we can sit on garbage. It literally is a transfer station. The garbage comes in, and then it gets loaded into a transfer trailer, then goes out, and it heads to the landfill.”
Weaver says that before planning on the North Judson transfer station got underway, he arranged for several local officials to tour Metro Recycling’s existing facilities. “I then approached Ted Bombagetti, who was the director of emergency management in Starke County; Terry Stephenson, director of the county planning commission; and Dennis Estok, who was county surveyor at the time,” Weaver says. “They toured the facilities, and came back and reported to me that they were very clean. They were extremely impressed with the facilities. They were very neat and orderly, very clean. There was no junk laying around.” Weaver also notes that while steps are being taken to protect the local environment, the site of the proposed North Judson transfer station has been an industrial area for well over a century.
Samahon adds that a big goal of Metro Recycling is to help protect the environment by reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. “I’m not sure when it was bad to try to recycle,” he says. “And that’s the part that I don’t want to say frustrates me but I just kind of question. We’re trying to offer a benefit to the community by taking items because if it isn’t for facilities that are recycling, then we need to set aside more land for landfills, and I don’t think anybody’s going to be too happy about that.”
Samahon estimates that the new transfer station would create about five jobs initially. That could eventually increase to up to 15, depending on the success of the facility.
Metro Recycling plans to discuss the proposed facility with residents during Monday’s North Judson Town Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Town officials have announced that Monday’s meeting has been moved to the North Judson–San Pierre Junior/Senior High School Auditorium. The presentation will be for informational purposes only, since the proposed site actually sits outside of the North Judson town limits and out of the town council’s jurisdiction. However, Weaver says council members have been involved in the project for at least the past year.
If the process continues to move along as scheduled, the new transfer station could open in the summer of 2017.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
North Judson Transfer Station Proposal Draws Concerns from Residents
Posted on October 27, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The planned addition of a recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park has some residents organizing a protest. Metro Recycling currently operates three facilities in Northwest Indiana and one in Illinois.
The one the company’s planning for the North Judson area would be similar to those, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “A group of folks from Starke County, I believe from maybe the County Plan Commission, went to one of their other Indiana facilities to take a look at that facility and came back and said it was very well-run and clean and no issues.” He says the company is currently wrapping up a lengthy permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which could pave the way for construction to start in the spring.
However, some residents say they’re concerned with issues of noise and pollution, as well as a potential decline in property values that may result. They say the proposed transfer station has been a “well kept secret” by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the Starke County Plan Commission, and the Town of North Judson, something Gifford disputes. “On our particular organization, there are probably about five people from North Judson that have been kept advised of this as it’s gone on,” he said. “The Town of North Judson has a member on our board that has been fully aware of all this process. And the Starke County Planning Commission sent a team over to look at once of their other facilities, and apparently, they didn’t need any special local zoning permits or anything like that, or the Starke County Plan Commission obviously would have had a meeting.”
He adds that legal notices typically have to be made for these types of projects. Gifford says from his experience, Metro Recycling has been a good corporate citizen, noting that the company has twice taken part in the SCEDF’s Manufacturers Day event.
This evening, though, a group of residents plans to hold a protest meeting at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00. Meanwhile, Gifford says representatives from Metro Recycling as well as the SCEDF are scheduled to discuss the new facility during the next North Judson Town Council meeting on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Officials with Metro Recycling could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The planned addition of a recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park has some residents organizing a protest. Metro Recycling currently operates three facilities in Northwest Indiana and one in Illinois.
The one the company’s planning for the North Judson area would be similar to those, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “A group of folks from Starke County, I believe from maybe the County Plan Commission, went to one of their other Indiana facilities to take a look at that facility and came back and said it was very well-run and clean and no issues.” He says the company is currently wrapping up a lengthy permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which could pave the way for construction to start in the spring.
However, some residents say they’re concerned with issues of noise and pollution, as well as a potential decline in property values that may result. They say the proposed transfer station has been a “well kept secret” by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the Starke County Plan Commission, and the Town of North Judson, something Gifford disputes. “On our particular organization, there are probably about five people from North Judson that have been kept advised of this as it’s gone on,” he said. “The Town of North Judson has a member on our board that has been fully aware of all this process. And the Starke County Planning Commission sent a team over to look at once of their other facilities, and apparently, they didn’t need any special local zoning permits or anything like that, or the Starke County Plan Commission obviously would have had a meeting.”
He adds that legal notices typically have to be made for these types of projects. Gifford says from his experience, Metro Recycling has been a good corporate citizen, noting that the company has twice taken part in the SCEDF’s Manufacturers Day event.
This evening, though, a group of residents plans to hold a protest meeting at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00. Meanwhile, Gifford says representatives from Metro Recycling as well as the SCEDF are scheduled to discuss the new facility during the next North Judson Town Council meeting on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Officials with Metro Recycling could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Starke County Plan Commission Updates Fee Schedule
Posted on July 22, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
An updated permit fee schedule for unincorporated areas of Starke County was approved Wednesday by the County Plan Commission. No comments on the proposed changes were offered from the public. However, Plan Commission Director Terry Stephenson had an issue with the permit fee for accessory buildings, which covers everything from pre-built sheds to garages to pole barns. “Right now, we’re charging them $75 for a 10-by-12 [foot building] and $75 for an 80-by-300,” he said. “Even a minimum of $50 seems like a lot for going out one time on these little sheds.”
Plan commissioners settled on changing the fee to $25 for structures under 200 square feet and 15-cents per square foot for larger buildings, with a maximum fee of $250.
At the same time, the proposed fee of $250 per structure for a concentrated animal feeding operation seemed too low for some plan commissioners, considering the size of many of the operations. Instead, the plan commission decided to place CAFOs into the category of commercial and industrial buildings, which has a permit fee of 20-cents per square foot, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Additionally, the demolition permit category was updated to clarify that permits are only needed for the demolition of dwellings and accessory buildings, not other structures like decks or roofs.
The updated fees were approved, unanimously.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
An updated permit fee schedule for unincorporated areas of Starke County was approved Wednesday by the County Plan Commission. No comments on the proposed changes were offered from the public. However, Plan Commission Director Terry Stephenson had an issue with the permit fee for accessory buildings, which covers everything from pre-built sheds to garages to pole barns. “Right now, we’re charging them $75 for a 10-by-12 [foot building] and $75 for an 80-by-300,” he said. “Even a minimum of $50 seems like a lot for going out one time on these little sheds.”
Plan commissioners settled on changing the fee to $25 for structures under 200 square feet and 15-cents per square foot for larger buildings, with a maximum fee of $250.
At the same time, the proposed fee of $250 per structure for a concentrated animal feeding operation seemed too low for some plan commissioners, considering the size of many of the operations. Instead, the plan commission decided to place CAFOs into the category of commercial and industrial buildings, which has a permit fee of 20-cents per square foot, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Additionally, the demolition permit category was updated to clarify that permits are only needed for the demolition of dwellings and accessory buildings, not other structures like decks or roofs.
The updated fees were approved, unanimously.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Starke County Plan Commission Delays Action on Confined Animal Feeding Ordinance Updates
Posted on July 21, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Plan Commission will decided to gather more information before approving updates to its confined animal feeding ordinance. A public hearing was held on the proposed updates during Wednesday’s meeting.
Among the proposed changes is the addition of a “Confined Feeding Operation” category to the ordinance, as a somewhat smaller version of the “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation” already listed. Another proposed addition would require operations falling into either of those categories to receive a special exception in order to be placed within a half-mile of land zoned for non-agricultural uses.
Plan Commissioner Betty Dotlich says a pre-application form has been put together, to gather information about potential operations. “We developed a form, based on this ordinance if it’s approved, of what we would like them to turn in when they’re applying for the CAFO or CFO permit,” she says. “And then they would attach to that their route permit from the county highway garage, any written permission, if it’s required, for any variations from setbacks, and their IDEM application packet as well, so we have all the information that IDEM has.”
The existing ordinance calls for a certain distance between CAFOs or their waste management systems and non-farm houses, depending on whether or not any odor control measures are used. However, some residents in attendance questioned whether more odor restrictions could be put into place, should operators choose to use animal manure as fertilizer on their land. Several plan commissioners expressed their belief that restrictions on manure placement were beyond the commission’s scope, instead falling under the Indiana Department of Environmental Management or the State Chemist’s Office.
Plan Commission Attorney Martin Bedrock said that while it’s unlikely the state would allow Starke County to impose stricter regulations, there’s no harm in asking. “If they say no, then we’re stuck with what they’ve established as the standards,” he said. “But if they say that we can impose stricter standards, then we’ll have to deal with that.”
The plan commissioners decided to delay final approval of the ordinance, while they gather more information from the state.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Plan Commission will decided to gather more information before approving updates to its confined animal feeding ordinance. A public hearing was held on the proposed updates during Wednesday’s meeting.
Among the proposed changes is the addition of a “Confined Feeding Operation” category to the ordinance, as a somewhat smaller version of the “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation” already listed. Another proposed addition would require operations falling into either of those categories to receive a special exception in order to be placed within a half-mile of land zoned for non-agricultural uses.
Plan Commissioner Betty Dotlich says a pre-application form has been put together, to gather information about potential operations. “We developed a form, based on this ordinance if it’s approved, of what we would like them to turn in when they’re applying for the CAFO or CFO permit,” she says. “And then they would attach to that their route permit from the county highway garage, any written permission, if it’s required, for any variations from setbacks, and their IDEM application packet as well, so we have all the information that IDEM has.”
The existing ordinance calls for a certain distance between CAFOs or their waste management systems and non-farm houses, depending on whether or not any odor control measures are used. However, some residents in attendance questioned whether more odor restrictions could be put into place, should operators choose to use animal manure as fertilizer on their land. Several plan commissioners expressed their belief that restrictions on manure placement were beyond the commission’s scope, instead falling under the Indiana Department of Environmental Management or the State Chemist’s Office.
Plan Commission Attorney Martin Bedrock said that while it’s unlikely the state would allow Starke County to impose stricter regulations, there’s no harm in asking. “If they say no, then we’re stuck with what they’ve established as the standards,” he said. “But if they say that we can impose stricter standards, then we’ll have to deal with that.”
The plan commissioners decided to delay final approval of the ordinance, while they gather more information from the state.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Starke Commissioners Amend Unsafe Building Ordinance
The Starke County Commissioners adopted amendments to the county’s unsafe building ordinance last night amid enthusiastic support from members of the public. Koontz Lake residents in particular attended the meeting and expressed frustration with the prevalence of visible junk vehicles, trash and other debris they say are driving down property values and affecting quality of life. Concerns were also raised about trash that’s not properly disposed of attracting rodents and potentially spreading diseases.
The amended ordinance requires vehicles incapable of being driven or without a current registration attached to be stored in a location that is not publicly visible, such as a garage or barn. It states “vehicles covered by a tarp or other plastic, vinyl, rubber, cloth or textile covering are considered to be visible.” Vehicles undergoing temporary service or repair are exempt from the provision. Also vehicles owned by military members on active duty assignment may be stored without a current license plate provided it is not visible from public property.
The ordinance also defines junk or debris not including inoperable vehicles and requires them to be stored in a completely enclosed structure at the rear of a dwelling. Also lumber or other building materials, construction vehicles or construction equipment not in connection with a permitted building project in progress on the property cannot be stored where they are visible from public property.
Fines of $350 for a first and $700 for a second offense after a 10 day period, plus cleanup costs, will be levied, according to the ordinance. A third offense will be referred to the Starke County Planning Commission for a public hearing. The owner will also be responsible for a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per day plus any administrative fees incurred related to advertising and conducting the public hearing.
Chronic nuisance properties are defined in the ordinance as those upon which two or more nuisance activities or conditions as defined in the ordinance have occurred during any three year period. They may have such recorded on the chain of title in the Starke County Recorder’s Office. That designation will remain in effect until the county’s enforcement officer certifies it has been nuisance-free for 24 consecutive months.
The ordinance is effective immediately. A copy is posted below. The underlined sections represent the new language.
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