Is the infamous Draft E revision of the Elkhart County Zoning Proposal reappearing? Those interested in this issue will recall a lively public hearing that occurred in April 2011, attended by about 300 Elkhart County property owners. About 40 people addressed the Plan Commission on that day. Only one person spoke in favor of that document. The message delivered to the Plan Commission was clear: Draft E usurped property owner rights more than protecting them.
The 270-page Draft E presented definitions, standards, requirements and restrictions. It did little for property owner rights and privileges.
In December 2012 the Plan Commission approved a representative working group of local property owners. This group has been working gratis since August on a new zoning document. They delivered a progress report to the Plan Commission. The Plan Commission (including Commissioner Mike Yoder) disagreed with the unanimous working group recommendation.
The Plan Commission instructs the working group to remove residential uses from property zoned agriculture. This month the working group meets to discuss the way forward. Members do not understand the reason for removing residential use from ag-zoned property. They request the plan director to seek clarification from the Plan Commission of the specific reasons why this use should not be allowed. At the Jan. 10 meeting of the Plan Commission (with Commissioner Frank Lucchese, but minus Commissioner Yoder) the Plan Commission is asked for, but cannot provide, specific reasons. They voted 5-4 (just a month ago) to not allow residential uses in ag zones.
How can it be that the professionals on the Plan Commission cannot provide the reasons they voted just 30 days ago to disallow residential uses in ag zones? Do they need to get instructions from someone else? Or are the recommendations of property owners inconsistent with the planned community vision of the County Commissioners?
— James Kuhlenschmidt
Goshen
Letters to the Editor
What’s happening with Draft E?
- Letters to the Editor
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Safety along C.R. 35 is a concern
This letter is meant to bring awareness and hopefully corrections in regard to C.R. 35 in Elkhart County. Something needs to be done immediately to enforce the laws pertaining to the use of C.R. 35.
- Emphasis on gun control makes you wonder
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Goshen should stick with ‘Redskins’
I must respond to the letter to the editor from Mr. Ron Chupp (The Goshen News, May 9). What’s in a name, Mr. Chupp? I too have a Native American heritage, and for some reason, I am not offended by the term Redskins, or brown skins or any other color of skins.
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More important issues than a nickname
I would like to, in the most respectful way possible, respond to Mr. Chupp’s letter (The Goshen News, May 9) regarding the ongoing debate over the term “Redskins” being used as the nickname and mascot for the Goshen school system.
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There is hope through God
May I share what happened to me after praying about the issue of whether to have guns carried by school authorities at Goshen High School. While calling out to God, my question was: Why have we as a nation come to trusting in government agencies, such as Homeland Security, rather than obeying the Constitution in what you have declared through our forefathers?
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Sheriff has this reader's support
This letter is in defense of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and in response to Shari Mellin’s letter (The Goshen News, May 8) about Sheriff Brad Rogers not obeying the laws related to anti-gun legislation
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‘Redskins’ nickname is offensive
The question posed (in the May 5 edition) was, “What’s in a Name?” In the case of the GHS (Redskins) mascot, it is insult, degradation, racism, and an ongoing slap-in-the face reminder of the disgusting manner in which my Native American ancestors were treated by Europeans.
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Millrace projects threaten a Goshen gem
The city of Goshen is in the 11th hour for the five Redevelopment Commission members to hear the voices of its residents concerning the millrace redevelopment proposals at its next meeting at 4 p.m. on May 14.
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We don’t need a community center
We want to keep this short and to the point. We keep reading articles and letters in the papers about the proposed community center in Goshen. Our question is why?
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Freedom-loving Americans want our country back
We are living in unprecedented times. The “America” of today is not the America that many of us grew up in.
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Safety along C.R. 35 is a concern
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