By DAVE SCHULTZ
Four rezoning requests were given favorable recommendations by the Wells County Area Plan Commission.
The requests involved three parcels — at 1114 Lancaster St. and 232 Bond St., both owned by Leander Schwartz, and at 505 S. Main St., currently owned by BAF Investments LLC — within the Bluffton city limits. Also approved was a request to rezone a parcel outside the city on Elm Grove Road, owned by Timothy and Melissa Lambert, for possible use as a dog boarding site and kennel.
Schwartz wants his properties rezoned from R-1 to R-3, a higher density residential zoning, and the 10 APC members present voted to recommend the rezoning of the property to the Bluffton Common Council.
“Leander has done some good projects in Bluffton,” said Josh Hunt, who represents the city on the APC and, as a member of the city council, will be voting on the matter when it formally comes before the council.
The other parcel before the city was one of the city’s most interesting structures — a brick house at 505 S. Main St. The house had been vacant for several years — possibly as many as 15 — and the goal now is to make it a type of community meeting place. The rezoning request would take it from R-2 (residential) to B-1 (business).
Blake Fiechter, the property’s owner, plans to sell it to Dan Dubach. Both men were present Thursday night to answer questions about the rezoning request.
Mike Lautzenheiser, executive director of the APC, noted the fact that it would be an act of preservation to put the house to some form of use. Jody Holloway, a Realtor in the city, approached the APC and asked for a “do pass” recommendation on the rezoning request. He said if the carriage house at the rear of the property was taken down there could be as many as 10 parking spaces onsite.
Again, the APC members voted 10-0 to recommend the rezoning to the Bluffton council.
The fourth parcel, at 4496 E. Elm Grove Road, attracted a little more controversy. Timothy Lambert said his son wanted to operate a dog boarding facility but Rodney and Brenda Clamme, who own property diagonally across Elm Grove Road from the Lamberts, cited traffic concerts, dogs that have been running at large off of the property, and noise issues. The Clammes also claimed that the neighborhood has become more of a residential area.
The APC members, however, voted 10-0 to recommend the rezoning to the Wells County Commissioners.
Members present for Thursday night’s meeting were Harry Baumgartner Jr., Tyson Brooks, Jarrod Hahn, Bill Horan, Josh Hunt, Jerome Markley, Tim Rohr, Becky Stone-Smith, and Melissa Woodworth. A new member was present Thursday night as well, as Kiera Lance replaced Cory Elzey as Uniondale’s representative because Elzey has moved out of Uniondale.
John Schuhmacher was the only APC member not present Thursday night.
daves@news-banner.com
