A nonprofit group aiming to address housing insecurity may proceed with its plans for a thrift store in Knox. The city’s board of zoning appeals Monday approved the Starke County Resource Center’s special use request for the former Knights of Columbus building at 503 East Lake Street, with the explicit stipulation that the property shall not be used as a homeless shelter.
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A year after a local nonprofit group shelved its plan to put a homeless shelter in the former Knights of Columbus building in Knox, its alternate plan for the space is now in limbo, as well. The Starke County Resource Center has taken possession of the building at 503 East Lake Street.
Continue readingA longstanding vacancy on the Knox Board of Zoning Appeals was filled by the city council last week. M. David Metz III was appointed to the BZA at the recommendation of Council President Jeff Berg.
Continue readingThe Knox City Council will take some preliminary steps tonight to spend the latest round of federal COVID-19 relief. Council members will discuss measures to create a separate fund for the $740,000 the city expects to get from the American Rescue Plan Act and proceed with working on a plan for how to spend it.
Continue readingThe City of Knox is looking to have more control over the placement of driveways. The city council passed an ordinance Tuesday requiring all new driveways in residential or commercial zones to be at least 12 feet away from the adjoining property line.
Continue readingThe leadership in the City of Knox will look largely the same for another year. Mayor Dennis Estok announced his yearly appointments to the city council Tuesday.
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More electronic signs may be coming to the Knox Community Schools campus. Back in March, the school corporation installed a message board at the corner of Main Street and Redskin Trail. Now, the Knox Board of Works has agreed to let the middle school add its own sign in the city’s right of way along Main Street.
Continue readingWhile the Starke County Resource Center’s goal of setting up a full homeless shelter is on hold, plans for a daytime warming center are quickly moving ahead. A number of potential volunteers, most of them affiliated with local churches, gathered Monday at the Trinity Assembly of God Church in Knox, where it would be housed. Among other things, they looked at how to go about providing meals, clothes, resources, and programs to people who need help.
Continue readingThe group behind a proposed homeless shelter has withdrawn its request for the Knox BZA’s permission to use the Knights of Columbus building, at least for now. City officials say a public hearing that had been scheduled for next Monday has been canceled.
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Many Starke County residents are experiencing housing insecurity every day, but currently the resources they need can only be found outside the county. That’s according to Matt Ohime, the pastor of Davis Wesleyan Church who’s spearheading the effort to organize a Starke County Resource Center.
Continue readingAs the Starke County Resource Center awaits a decision from the Knox Board of Zoning Appeals, the nonprofit group is working to gather volunteers to help make the project a reality. Organizers are hosting a “community contributor gathering” tonight at 7:00 at the Trinity Assembly of God at 22 North Shield Street in Knox.
Continue readingAs the Knox Board of Zoning Appeals prepares to make a decision on a proposed homeless shelter, an effort to add a new member to the board was unsuccessful. During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Council President Jeff Berg made a motion to appoint Monica Miller to fill a longstanding vacancy on the BZA.
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The former Knox Moose Lodge will not be offered as a potential site for a homeless shelter, according to Mayor Dennis Estok. “That building was bought for future land use, to help revitalize the downtown area, whatever it’s going to be,” Estok said during Tuesday’s city council meeting. “It was not offered for the homeless shelter, and it won’t be. That is not the original plan for that building. That’s not why we bought it. So that is off the table, as far as I’m concerned.”
Continue readingWhether or not a homeless shelter belongs in a residential area was debated during Monday’s Knox Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. A nonprofit group called the Starke County Resource Center is seeking the board’s permission to use the Knights of Columbus building at 503 East Lake Street as a “temporary housing facility for displaced Starke County residents.”
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Knox City Council members will discuss funding for a school resource officer when they meet tonight.
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The Knox BZA members are also anticipated to discuss the vacant secretary position when they meet tonight at 7 p.m.
Members will also hear an appeal from a Pacific Avenue property owner seeking a variance. Owner of Royal Star Builders, Tim Miller, will be appealing to the BZA to receive a variance on the 40-foot setback specification for a rear yard on a commercial property. Continue reading
The Knox Planning Commission welcomed a new member during their meeting Tuesday night.
Mayor Dennis Estok appointed Jim Strong to the commission and he is filling Steve Dodge’s seat. His term will end on December 31st, 2019.
Commission President Greg Matt said that Strong resigned from the BZA to be on the Planning Commission, leaving a vacancy on that board. Mayor Estok explained that with Strong switching over to the Planning Commission, there are now two open seats on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Zoning Appeals is happy with the cleanup efforts at a local pawn shop. The board previously considered imposing a fine on 1st Choice Pawn and Loan, due to the condition of its South Heaton Street property. During Monday’s meeting, though, board members noted that the condition of the site had improved over the past couple weeks, enough for them to drop plans for a fine. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Zoning Appeals will continue discussing the cleanup of a pawn shop property this evening. According to the minutes of the board’s previous meeting, the board is considering assessing a fine to 1st Choice Pawn and Loan. Continue reading
Tractor Supply Company was granted a special use variance by the City of Knox Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night. The company plans to occupy the portion of the building in the Knox Mall that formerly housed Alco. On a unanimous vote the board granted the variance so Tractor Supply Company could use outdoor storage and sales displays beyond what the current ordinance allows. Continue reading
