A Greens Fork man whose business tears down old houses and barns received permission to store the reusable lumber at his residence.
The Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approved Amos King’s variance of use request to operate the wholesale construction salvage business at 3699 N. Mineral Springs Road, which is zoned agricultural. King has been storing materials at another site while operating the business for about 14 years.
The valuable scrap is sold by the trailer load to regular buyers. King said the business is growing enough that he’ll need a 200-foot-by-50-foot storage facility.
Danny Phelps, a board member, expressed concern that granting the variance would set a precedent for others wanting to establish warehousing businesses. He said commercial creep would turn the agricultural community into a commercial community.
All five board members approved each finding of fact and supported overall approval of the variance.
Auction facility
The board unanimously approved amendments to a variance of use and a special exception previously granted Midway Auction Barn LLC for an auction facility at 10927 N. U.S. 27, Fountain City.
The amendments permit a pop-up tent on the east side of the auction building. A caterer will use the tent to prepare and grill food that’s served at a lunch stand inside.
John Tackett, a neighbor to the south, spoke against the tent, saying he would prefer a trailer or food truck rather than the tent that’s visible from his property. Tackett also opposed the BZA’s decision about the original variance and special exception, filing appeals that he lost in Wayne County Circuit Court and with the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Tackett questioned why the wants of the auction company supersede the feelings of longtime county residents.
Other actions
- A variance of use for a temporary second home and a special exception that the home be a mobile home were granted for 4584 Inke Road, Richmond. The rulings enable a family to provide assistance to a family member with medical issues.
- The county withdrew an enforcement petition filed against the resident at 1083 S. Germantown Road, Cambridge City, who was accused of violating conditions imposed when receiving a variance of development standards to retain agricultural animals. The petition had been held from May’s meeting for further investigation that found compliance with the conditions.
A version of this article appeared in the June 18 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.