The Starke County Plan Commission members will hold public hearings tonight to consider unsafe structures pursuant to Indiana Code.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals to Meet Tonight
Starke County Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where they will hear from Roberta Lee concerning solar decommissioning agreements.
Continue readingStarke County Board of Zoning Appeals to Meet in Special Session
Starke County Plan Commission, BZA to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where the members will hold a public hearing pertaining to the flood damage prevention ordinance for Starke County developed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Water. The ordinance will be up for consideration after public comment is taken.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission, BZA to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where they will discuss a land splitting requirement and ordinance with Melissa Soltis from North Judson. They will also consider a request to waive a late fee for a contractor registration.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where the members will open a public hearing to consider a code violation for maintaining a public nuisance and an unsafe building/buildings at 3415 S. 200 E. in Knox.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission, BZA to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where two public hearings will be held.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission, BZA to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where the board will reorganize.
Continue readingStarke County Plan Commission to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight where they will hold three public hearings.
Continue readingStarke County Commissioners Seeking New BZA Member
Starke County is looking for a new board of zoning appeals member. Auditor Rachel Oesterreich recently told the county commissioners that they still need to appoint someone.
Continue readingStarke County Officials to Look Into Dirt Bike Track Noise Complaints
Starke County officials may soon be reviewing their zoning regulations, following noise complaints about a dirt bike track.
Continue readingStarke County Forest Access Road Plan Needs Another Level of Approval
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.
Starke County Seeking BZA Members
The Starke County Commissioners are looking to fill a seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals. The vacancy was created when a member moved from the county. Continue reading
Trailer at Center of Grovertown Zoning Controversy Removed
A commercial office trailer at the center of a zoning controversy is no longer in the state. It’s owned by Walter Ford and Julia Ford and until last week was located in Grovertown. The Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals in 2011 issued a mobile home permit for the structure. Neighbors George and Betty Dotlich filed a BZA appeal in October of that year, challenging the structure’s classification as a mobile home.
The BZA revoked that permit and issued one for a site-built home. The Dotlichs’ filed an appeal in court in March of 2012 on the grounds the trailer, which was purchased in Illinois, was not certified for any use in Indiana for any purpose and that placement of such structures outside of commercially zoned areas is a violation of county ordinances. A special judge ruled in their favor in January of 2013 and sent the matter back to the BZA. That body adopted the judge’s findings and ordered the structure removed by June 1, 2013. Continue reading
Fords Sue County Over Zoning Issue
A Grovertown couple who was ordered to remove an improperly placed structure from their property are suing the county for damages as a result of their ordeal. Walter and Julia Ford’s lawsuit names former Starke County Building Commissioner Bruce Williams, the Starke County Board of Commissioners and Board of Zoning Appeals of Starke County as defendants. Continue reading
Judge Blankenship to Ponder Starke County Property Case
Pulaski County Superior Court Judge Patrick Blankenship will take a few days to mull over a decision concerning legal action between the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals, George and Betty Dotlich and Julia Ford.
The Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals and attorney Martin Bedrock filed a motion in court to show cause as to why Julia Ford has not removed a structure that was ordered to be done by the BZA in the Grovertown area. The issue was if she violated the terms of the court order and was to held in contempt of court.
Grovertown Structure Still a Court Issue; Hearing Set For Sept. 17
A structure in rural Grovertown is still a heated issue, as Walter and Julia Ford have been ordered to appear in Pulaski Superior Court in Winamac to argue why they should not be held in contempt of court for not removing a structure that they had been ordered to remove before June 1. Back in May, the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to uphold a ruling made by Special Judge Patrick Blankenship that required Julia Ford to tear down a building that has been the subject of public scrutiny and a lawsuit. They extended the deadline date from June 1 to June 15 and adjourned the meeting.
Starke County BZA Ruling Requires Resident to Remove Building
The Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals met in special session last night.
The board voted to uphold a ruling made by Special Judge Patrick Blankenship that requires Julia Ford to tear down a building that has been the subject of public scrutiny and a lawsuit. They extended the deadline date from June 1 to June 15 and adjourned the meeting.
No Decision Made in Controversial Zoning Issue
There is still no final decision in the matter regarding the building permit issued to Julia Ford for a structure at 6690 East 250 North in Grovertown following the recent meeting of the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals.
Neighbor Betty Dotlich objects to the permit, citing the structure as commercial and not residential and, therefore, the structure should not be allowed to remain on the property. Dotlich presented the board with a thick packet of documentation regarding the situation, and a motion was made by the board to table the matter for a month’s time in order to digest the information presented.
Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals down One Member
The Starke County BZA Board will continue on with business until a someone steps up to fill a vacancy on the Board.
Roger Chaffins had to relinquish his seat on that Board when he was elected as a Township Trustee. At this week’s Starke County Council meeting, it was announced that no one had emerged to put in his or her name for a seat on the Board. The replacement must be a Democrat.
Don White, Bob Troike, Sherri Bartoli, and Denise Marks are the current members of the Board.
