The following was reported by The Elkhart Truth.
A Middlebury, Indiana, RV dealer will be able to make up for land lost to highway expansion after a decision by county leaders.
The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a detailed planned unit development for The Outpost RV. The company at 57756 C.R. 37, Middlebury, hopes to offset property that was lost to right of way for state and county road projects.
“We really didn’t want to be here, but we’ve kind of been compelled. The county is taking part of our property from the south. The state is taking part of our property to the north,” said Blake Doriot with Doriot and Associates, representing Outpost RV owner Phaylon Schrock. “We’ve been here for many years, and this is where we want to stay because it’s a good location.”
Outpost RV is on the west side of the U.S. 20 and Orpha Drive intersection. Planned projects include the widening of U.S. 20 along a four-mile stretch west of Middlebury, as well as sewer installation and bike path realignment.
C.R. 37, on the west side of the dealership, will lose direct access to U.S. 20 and will be turned into a cul-de-sac.
Doriot said Schrock bought 3 acres west of the dealership and plans to use 1 acre as RV parking. The northern part of the land will be used as a horse pasture.
Zoning Administrator Jason Auvil said the property was a good candidate for a detailed planned unit development because it will support a variety of uses.
“This is an ideal application for the DPUD, because we’re going to have a mixed use,” he said. “We’re going to have a residential use, a house there. We’re going to have a small storage lot for some RV units, as well as, we’re going to have agricultural uses on that property.”
The rezoning had previously received approval from county planning staff and the Elkhart County Plan Commission.
Read the full report by The Elkhart Truth here. Please note there is a paywall.
