[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6551506,"mediaKeyId","5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e","parentId",5334463,"title","Commission backs vacation of Crestwood stub road with condition to preserve wetland access","audioSeconds",1942,"startMs",3124000,"endMs",5066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e&start=3124&end=5066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e/thumbnail_3124000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551506/Kosciusko-County/Indiana/Commission-backs-vacation-of-Crestwood-stub-road-with-condition-to-preserve-wetland-access","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551506-fad71b9c1c422a4b1abffb4fb38a9623/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989797&Signature=EnJS51CxdeYvMeih6xL3L3yJ5kVjmjWV6-h~HWPBTysOzzR1Gk9N8wGF~ygxuftYMa2h0Szh7VkKNPAJ4SFkTUxyhTVQOPW9iU3p0HNzSFZ2yf4-r0MprcU~yEdAO06Dr6Xex0usGLtl1K1dI~NFDf6JE8fCTSK00ddQK~JSytNM5XEWnZx~nijDHPoloo~rxO6pOUhX1KaHl4Sak0gU-zOHHd9a3UjfhS2dXM5b3C9izShgHt1a2ixlxaKrLVT-meayr04QNRp9OUQ4rE6F7EVzJ9bkrNfKilHt1dE22FbzEbYUVjKePS6GXJ766KXX~07Cq99pizr7chQs3xvEgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kosciusko County Government","date","2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission on July (meeting) voted 8–0 to forward a favorable recommendation to county commissioners to vacate a platted unimproved right of way between Lots 19 and 20 in the Crestwood (Sawmill Lake) plat.

The petition (vacation 2025‑6 for Jamaa Roos and Jennifer Griffin) seeks to vacate a triangular platted strip, about 42 feet at its widest point, that narrows inland and currently functions as unimproved grass between yard areas and marsh. Petitioners and representatives told the commission that if the right of way is vacated, the southern portion will be combined with an adjacent wetland parcel (identified in the record as Government Lot 7) so the wetland would retain deeded access and would not become landlocked.

Attorney Scott Royce, representing the owners of Lot 19 (the southern lot) and the owner of the wetland parcel, described Government Lot 7 as unbuildable wetland acreage; surveys in the record ranged from about 2.2 to 6.8 acres depending on water level, Royce said. “They will receive Tract 2 as shown on the blueprint, and they will then deed Tract 2 to be combined with Government Lot 7 so that there is access to Government Lot 7,” Royce told the commission.

A homeowner to the north, identified in the record as Alicia Salacci, said she has used the grassed unimproved area infrequently and that the southern neighbors had opposed prior disputes; she said she supported the vacation primarily to resolve neighbor conflicts and to formalize driveway access. Other residents and several remonstrance letters were on file opposing the vacation on grounds that the area provides community overflow parking, recreational shoreline access, and an informal gathering spot.

Commissioners discussed whether vacating the strip would create any landlocked parcels and confirmed that the petitioners had agreed to deed the southern tract to the wetland owner so access to Government Lot 7 would be preserved. Commissioners noted existing court rulings and past litigation referenced in the record; they also observed that open burning reported by neighbors in the unimproved area is a separate regulatory enforcement issue.

A motion to recommend vacating the platted unimproved right of way, with the arrangement that the vacated southern portion be combined with Government Lot 7 to preserve access, passed unanimously. The plan commission will forward a favorable 8–0 recommendation to the county commissioners for final action at 9 a.m. on July 29.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 2025 APC Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission voted 8–0 to recommend vacating a platted unimproved right of way between Lots 19 and 20 in Crestwood (Sawmill Lake); petitioners agreed to combine half of the vacated tract with an adjacent wetland (Government Lot 7) to avoid landlocking.","taxTitle","Kosciusko County, Indiana","taxId",51037,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551508,"Plan commission recommends against vacating Dewart Lake access; residents say deeded lake rights at stake",2371,768000,3139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e&start=768&end=3139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e/thumbnail_768000.jpg","/articles/6551508/Kosciusko-County/Indiana/Plan-commission-recommends-against-vacating-Dewart-Lake-access-residents-say-deeded-lake-rights-at-stake","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551508-b0f7d7603b45950fee394601eb485882/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989797&Signature=PXOD3pnJxK9s9H~64W32RDpUvNTQJ~ZA8vpbWziM6bu6qise~xcdfcDuf5mJVl-YD6aROyLVPmRyOunoYf04uR68-f9WAA5Krm1eRw3MZ~BVQsltPpK9EPLC3-Fy1iJHe8TPg7W2~FX4-8eREAVgfO5TMJgcmEiWedBUGhDe0N9S2EE23oEMNB0CbyZmCA~P5q4ucZQM4Z76BfB3roydVmpwK6zVCfG83QUOaE~wlrJkv98oJhdrXAW0WMiAuTVHy0tqcWiQR6r6Dxyj26V0JQPpm31d-Pj1JGlxPlJQnP7kVCV4zbW9NBI6TsAeM5ji1DV8focWUtPvqk1iR2FPGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission on July (meeting) voted unanimously to recommend that the Kosciusko County commissioners deny a petition to vacate a 36‑foot platted right of way between Lots 6 and 7 in Metzler Subdivision on Dewart Lake.

The commission’s negative recommendation followed extended public comment by residents who said the platted way provides long‑standing lake access for off‑lake owners and the broader community. The commission’s packet and testimony show Lot 7 is held in joint ownership by eight owners with undivided interests for lake access; petitioners proposed dividing the vacated strip between Lots 6 and 7.

Plan director Matt Sandy introduced the case (vacation 2025‑5 for Ronald Twomney) and showed aerial and video of the shoreline and the unimproved platted road that runs to the water’s edge. Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the petitioners, told commissioners the platted way had never been opened and had been maintained by adjacent owners; he said the subdivision’s other lots already have private piers and that the vacation would put the area back on the tax rolls and allow owners to repair erosion. “The question becomes … whose rights are we eliminating? Well, we’re not eliminating anybody’s because everybody has a pier space or the right to a pier space who owns a lot in Metzler Subdivision,” Snyder said.

Many residents opposed the vacation during the public comment period. Fred Young, who said he owns three lots at the lake and has used the area for 48 years, said he and other property owners hold deeded access and would be harmed if the platted way were vacated. “To ask me and 48 other property owners down there to give up their deeded access to the lake … I believe is wrong,” Young said. Other nearby residents gave similar testimony about family use, children learning to swim, and the area’s value as the community’s unimproved lake access.

County staff and commissioners questioned potential drainage and emergency‑water drafting uses. The highway superintendent’s comments — included in the technical packet — noted platted lakeway areas can provide drainage outlets; commissioners discussed that if a vacation removed the right of way and later drainage were needed, the county would have to acquire an easement. Commissioners also discussed whether erosion and shore conditions would allow a fire truck to draft water safely; discussion noted many departments use floating pumps and that state law allows emergency apparatus on private property to fight fires.

After public comment closed, a commissioner moved to deny the vacation petition. The motion passed unanimously. The plan commission will forward an 8–0 negative recommendation to the Kosciusko County commissioners for their July 29 meeting at 9 a.m. The county commissioners will take final action.","After extended public comment from long‑time residents, the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission voted 8–0 to recommend that county commissioners deny a petition to vacate a 36‑foot platted right of way between Lots 6 and 7 of Metzler Subdivision at Dewart Lake.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551513,"Plan commission recommends vacating eastern end of North Kitson Lane near Syracuse",617,151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e&start=151&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334463-3bc4a76b7a4fbd07cb52e26e2e1f573e/thumbnail_151000.jpg","/articles/6551513/Kosciusko-County/Indiana/Plan-commission-recommends-vacating-eastern-end-of-North-Kitson-Lane-near-Syracuse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551513-271b0886132190f05a0de642430ba214/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989797&Signature=VyOGUkIid-JkLESeuRGNSan52WSqXwptoAxjRQ~TvpEtzsG1RpLfDtn47T0Yh7N3qa68zY2wgP6YHj65zptQE6KRX4B8rFUUpAaqDEbSeGOGuU5YgShiRawMTMmVFqIuJXSipueS-SciHf1416PR1dXm5XUiAcpG31uzGoiqyX4ud0ViPQyuVV-MMLTxWAEskvh0UsKeNqlyHNFAJk~FHlPwn1XH89VwjyQoQyIUEc97~59Sjmk94hAbuoxJrgMqm919CqZtYN~ucs3cd3dY5fP~MAkQPi1qveQMXIbyKvo2ATZAuSfeW4GwprWwe3rvKLvhtJldS1YSikf7YKysEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission on July (meeting) voted unanimously to recommend that the Kosciusko County commissioners vacate roughly 83 feet of the eastern end of North Kitson Lane in the Kitson Park subdivision, a dead‑end right of way that ends at the lakeshore near Syracuse.

The recommendation matters because vacating the platted right of way would remove the public travel easement along a 16‑foot strip that has never been opened beyond a driveway and would allow adjacent property owners to finish landscaping and maintain the land as private yard space while statutory utility easements remain in place.

Plan director Matt Sandy introduced the case — vacation 2025‑4 for James Silcox — and showed aerial and video of the pavement terminating near a utility pole and seawall. Attorney Steve Snyder, representing the owners on both sides of the plat, told the commission the traveled surface stops at the driveway and that most of the adjacent ground is soggy and not suitable for travel. “We just want to eliminate the public’s right to travel over that portion so that we can finish landscaping it, and continue to maintain it as a yard,” Snyder said.

Snyder said the change would improve setback compliance for an existing house on the south side and a proposed side‑entry garage planned on the north lot. He also reported that Syracuse fire chief Mickey Scott reviewed the location and did not anticipate an impact on emergency services.

A member of the commission moved to vacate the right of way up to the edge of the paved surface or the utility pole; the commission discussed the statutory effect on utilities and confirmed that state law preserves utility easements in vacated public ways. The motion was approved unanimously. The plan commission will forward a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners, who are scheduled to consider the vacation at 9 a.m. on July 29 in this same room.

No formal acquisition or development will occur as part of the commission’s recommendation; the action is a recommendation only and any resulting change of ownership or use would be controlled by the county commissioners and by existing easements and zoning limits.","The Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend that county commissioners vacate about 83 feet of the eastern end of North Kitson Lane in the Kitson Park subdivision; utility easements will remain in place and the recommendation goes to commissioners July 29.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission backs vacation of Crestwood stub road with condition to preserve wetland access

Plan commission recommends against vacating Dewart Lake access; residents say deeded lake rights at stake

Plan commission recommends vacating eastern end of North Kitson Lane near Syracuse