The Plan Commission of Winona Lake, Indiana met Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in the Town Hall at 4:30 p.m. Noted as present:

Members: Mike Grill, Mark Workman, Dave Turner, Lynette Dick, Randy Swanson and Craig Allebach

Others: Dick Leaf, Town Building Commissioner and Retha Hicks as secretary.

Mike Grill, Plan Commission President, opened the meeting. Minutes were approved.

Storage Unit at Packerton Rd. and 225S – Garrett Howell was instructed to remove one of his attached signs because he is in violation of the town’s sign ordinance and to remove two of the detached signs if he wanted to install an illuminated sign. Mr. Howell was at the meeting to request an exception to the ordinance. He was told he needed to request a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals because they handle variances. He was given the instructions on how to obtain a variance by Dick Leaf.

The Plan Commission discussed the sign ordinance in regards to making a judgment on two bases – personal property rights and/or public good. The commission recommended the following changes:

Section 2; a – Sign, a publicly displayed board, one face (the surface of a thing)

Section 4; F; 2. – No non-conforming signs may be replaced or repaired if said sign is damaged more than forty (40) percent of its value to be determined by the Building Commissioner and/or if it requires structural repair or readability, it shall meet compliance (removed).

Section 5; D; 1 – Each business or commercial establishment shall be allow two (2) wall signs which may be illuminated or semi-illuminated. The total square footage of the two (2) signs cannot exceed fifteen (15) percent of the façade to a maximum of thirty-two (32) square feet on which they are placed.

Section 5; D; 2 – In lieu of one of the above attached sign, a single detached sign which may be illuminated or semi-illuminated shall be permitted. The detached sign will be placed at least ten (10) feet from existing or proposed right-of-way and be setback from any residential district boundary or distance equal to the height of the sign. The detached sign shall not exceed the height of structures permitted in these districts. The sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet. A detached illuminated or semi-illuminated two sided sign is considered to be two (2) signs. Any detached sign that is larger than four (4) feet in height, measuring from the ground to the top of the sign shall have open space of eight (8) feet measuring from the ground to the bottom of the sign.

Section 7 – delete

Section 12 – This Ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption, passage and publication as required by law. Signs installed between January 1, 2009 and the passage of this ordinance would not be grandfathered in (they must meet compliance).

Neighborhood Ordinance – Plan Commission members will review and come to the next meeting with any changes. Brent Wilcoxson requested the commission revise the subdivision control ordinance making developments more neighborhood friendly; i.e. sidewalks, alleyways, etc. The long term plan for subdivisions needs to be revised. One area in town would be idea for a subdivision is the property on Wooster Road where the church and trailer park are located. Craig stated the last couple of developments in the county have put in sidewalks. Our own greenway demonstrates communicability.

Meeting adjourned.

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Mike Grill, Plan Commission President Retha Hicks, Secretary