By DAVE SCHULTZ
The Wells County Area Plan Commission Thursday night approved the subdivision of a plot of land in eastern Wells County and reviewed the status of three violations.
The land request involved property at 4724E-100N, owned by David J. Smith. Austin Smith represented his father before the APC.
The request was for a 2.52-acre division of a minor subdivision. Such parcel decisions must come before the APC for its members’ approval.
Austin Smith noted that the property will be served by the Regional Sewer District’s sanitary sewer system now under construction to serve Craigville. David Smith is paying for two connections at the property, according to a letter sent to Michael Lautzenheiser, the APC’s executive director, from Lewis A. Brown, superintendent of the RSD.
All 11 members of the APC — Harry Baumgartner, Tim Rohr, Chandler Gerber, Jarrod Hahn, Bill Horan, Kiera Lance, Jerome Markley, Becky Stone-Smith, Melissa Woodworth, John Schuhmacher, and Tyson Brooks — were present for the meeting and all of them voted in favor of the Smiths’ request.
There were four violations on the APC’s agenda, but one of them — a pond setback violation on property owned by Joseph and Jennifer Moyer at 7564S-150E — was resolved prior to the meeting.
Of the three that remained, one of them required considerable conversation to get to the heart of the matter.
A violation had been issued for Daystar Development for property at 17815 Wayne St. in Zanesville. Thomas Bean, who is leasing part of the property with an intent to purchase, appeared at Thursday night’s meeting to address the matter — even though he said he was not responsible for anything involved in the citation. The board continued the matter until its next meeting, March 2, to notify Fort Wayne-based Daystar to have a representative present.
The other two violations were discussed and given additional time for correction.
Beth Loucks, 617 Oakdale Drive in Ossian, was originally cited in July of 2020 for a shed that has been placed in an easement and for which a permit had never been obtained. Loucks said the shed would be moved as soon as a stone pad could be prepared for it. The APC gave her until May 1 to move the shed and required her to purchase the $80 permit Friday.
Edward Berry and Jaclyn Knueven were present to discuss a junk violation at 2581 S. Hoosier Highway. Berry said the work should be done soon if the weather permits. The APC gave them 60 days to finish the work. A member of the APC’s staff will review the status of the work for a report at the APC’s March meeting.
daves@news-banner.com
