[3:42] I aliance to the flag of

[3:47] and for it standsation

[3:52] indivisibley for all

[3:58] » like to welcome everybody this morning. Uh do we have approval of the agenda?

[4:05] » So move second. All in favor? I >> uh do we have approval of the minutes

[4:11] from the January 12th, 2026 meeting? So moved.

[4:16] » I'll second. >> All in favor?

[4:28] The uh business here is the zoning variance

[4:32] request uh pub subdivision lots 37 and 38.

[4:38] Um, just to refresh, we had a public hearing on Monday and

[4:45] everybody kind of wanted to do some research. So, we

[4:50] decided to meet here again and uh here we are.

[4:55] Uh, we have one we have one letter that has

[5:00] been submitted again and uh

[5:05] » it's a different letter. or it's a it's a different letter.

[5:08] And you want me to read that now, Andrew?

[5:10] » Uh, we can open the public hearing. We can reopen the public hearing.

[5:13] » Let's do that. Um, if I can get a motion, reopen the public hearing.

[5:17] » So move. >> Second. All in favor?

[5:20] » I public hearing is now open. Uh, before I read the letter, does anybody

[5:27] have any comment out here? I went home and started thinking I I

[5:35] chewed on the meeting things that I said and I was a little nervous and not as

[5:40] prepared as I would have liked to do. One of the things that I thought maybe

[5:45] wasn't made clear by me was that while we have 90 students

[5:51] enrolled in Lifewise Academy, we take one class at a time. So, at the very

[5:58] most in any given class day, we would only have at the very most at 100%

[6:04] enrollment 25 kids at one time. So, I don't know if I made that clear or not.

[6:10] And I wanted to make sure to clarify that for everybody.

[6:15] That's all. >> Okay.

[6:17] » And and Lifewise isn't busing in extra students. This is students that are

[6:21] already in our school corporation. there there's no extra transportation, no

[6:26] extra cars, no extra parents dropping off. This is kids that are already

[6:30] enrolled north and San Pier School Corporation that are on campus.

[6:36] » And as as you pointed out Monday, we are parent permitted. The students that come

[6:43] can only come when their parents permit them and sign a release for them to

[6:47] come. And we're privately funded. And we are a non-denominational

[6:52] group. We are strictly teaching the Bible which I know has nothing to do

[6:56] with your >> comment on things from the last meeting.

[7:00] » Absolutely. >> So, um that's just so everybody's clear.

[7:05] Kathy said this before, but the students come in after the buses drop them up.

[7:09] So, there's no extra traffic during bus drop off and pick up before and after

[7:15] school. Also, I see there could be four houses on that property. So people that

[7:21] were concerned about traffic, four houses will bring much more traffic

[7:25] probably than two teachers and two or three volunteers

[7:29] would come to that place during the day. More traffic, more

[7:36] cars. Just I just thought of that point after

[7:41] and that's what it will be then if this doesn't happen outous.

[7:49] I'd like to have a comment too. I thought about this and it wasn't

[7:53] mentioned at the last meeting that uh Russie Curs was approached and I liked

[7:59] property rights. I own property in Star County and I I'm a firm believer in

[8:02] property rights. Rusty elected to sell us

[8:07] this property with the mindset of what was going on. He he approved as a

[8:14] property owner. And uh we we never brought that last meeting either.

[8:22] » So would Rusty if if this did not go through would Rusty sell the property

[8:27] over development for houses? >> So that that's that's kind of on Yeah.

[8:35] Okay. Um,

[8:40] we just received one, you know, one letter in time

[8:46] has passed. Uh, and I will read that now.

[8:52] Dear members of the BZA, after viewing the initial meeting meeting via live

[8:56] stream, we were left with more questions than answers regarding his proposal. We

[9:01] are writing to formally state our opposition to the construction of the

[9:04] Likewise Academy building on the field directly across from our home. While we

[9:08] welcome responsible development within the town, we believe that this facility

[9:12] would be more appropriately located elsewhere. To be clear, we do not oppose

[9:16] Lifewise as a program. We understand and respect that the students are currently

[9:22] permitted to participate during school hours and we have no objections to

[9:27] families choosing that option. Our concern is specifically with the

[9:30] proposed permanent structure and its placement within a residential

[9:33] neighborhood. The field in question has historically

[9:37] been farmland and is surrounded by homes. All existing businesses and

[9:42] organizational facilities in North Jud are located on designated commercial or

[9:46] mixeduse streets, not within residential neighborhood. Most being on State Road

[9:52] 10. Allowing a permanent organizational building in this location would

[9:56] significantly alter the character of the area and set a precedent for future

[10:00] non-residential development in established neighborhoods. Additionally,

[10:05] while the proposed building has been described as approximately 900 to,000

[10:09] square ft, it was also stated that the structure could be expanded in the

[10:13] future. This raises concerns that what is being presented as a smallcale

[10:18] project could be eventually grown into something much larger with increased

[10:22] traffic activity and long-term impact on nearby homeowners. Another concern is

[10:28] the lack of clarity surrounding the project details. During discussion, the

[10:32] representative indicated that they do not yet know where on the field the

[10:38] building would be placed, whether on the east side Vision Street or in the center

[10:43] of the property. This uncertainty makes it difficult for

[10:46] residents to properly understand or evaluate the full impact of the proposal

[10:51] and suggests that key details remain undecided. It also appears that there

[10:55] are multiple alternative locations within the town that would be more

[10:58] appropriate and practical for this type facility rather than placing it in a

[11:03] residential neighborhood. For example, areas such as corner of this drive in

[11:09] the state road town, the grassy area near Railroad Street and Cincinnati

[11:14] Street behind the superintendent's office between that building and

[11:18] softball field near the corner of 500 West of State Road 10. Several of these

[11:24] locations would allow students to walk directly to the facility, eliminating

[11:27] the need for bus transportation. This would reduce additional traffic fuel

[11:31] comp.

[11:34] For these reasons, we respectfully request that this project not be

[11:38] approved for construction on this residential property. We believe

[11:41] facilities of this type of more approp are more appropriately placed in areas

[11:46] already intended for institutional or commercial use rather than directly

[11:50] across from family home. Thank you for your time and consideration. We

[11:55] appreciate the opportunity to share our concerns and hope they will be carefully

[11:58] considered before any decisions are made. Sincerely, Kenzie and Quinn and

[12:03] Scotty 6221 South.

[12:09] » They submitted a letter. So that's second person.

[12:18] » Uh

[12:25] any comments regarding this letter? >> No, pretty straightforward.

[12:33] » Appreciate some questions.

[12:38] Be across from somebody's house. I would ask those those people, are they

[12:44] offended by me farming one acre of brown zoned residential and I'm agricultural?

[12:52] And I have the same question. Am I unwelcome there with my farm trackers

[12:58] which weigh 25 tons on the city streets.

[13:06] » I just Yeah. No, I go you understand my point where

[13:14] um

[13:21] John Jerry is do you guys know which way the front of

[13:27] the building would face now since the last meeting or

[13:32] » preference would be that it would be facing Campbell um for visibility.

[13:38] Yeah. >> And like we said, this is our initial

[13:42] step this property. Um, when I was hired as the director over

[13:51] the summer, I was driving through the whole town and looking to see what

[13:56] property would make the most sense. And this is the property I landed on. Um,

[14:03] turns out I'm not the only one or the first one to have had that same thought.

[14:08] But this is our very first step. We don't

[14:13] even have have our plans drawn up yet because first we needed to know, do we

[14:18] even have an option of a place to build? But I've had conversations with the man

[14:25] uh who headed up the project at West Central. I talked to him this week and

[14:29] he gave me a few of his insights and thoughts. One of the things also about

[14:35] all of the lifewise structures that I'm aware of that I've looked at are built

[14:41] in residential areas as close to the school as possible. And we do have to be

[14:47] within a 5 minute drive to the schools because of our timeline. We don't have

[14:53] time to transport the kids anymore. So, um, that's a long long answer to

[14:59] your short question, but do you have any other questions for

[15:05] » and if we divided the lot, if the lot was divided, if we didn't use the whole

[15:10] lot, which we probably wouldn't need to, our preference would be the east side,

[15:15] the ones the one closest to the school.

[15:21] » Go ahead. >> Okay. One thing about, you know,

[15:23] students being able to walk to the on bad snowy days or rainy days, that's not

[15:28] feasible. You know, we don't want to have to walk kids and downs to a

[15:34] building >> and they're coming from the elementary.

[15:36] So that >> Yeah. Keep coming. Right.

[15:39] » It's a 25minute walk >> and you can't build on already own

[15:45] property. Correct. >> Right.

[15:47] » Because I think a couple of those that were mentioned were already school owned

[15:50] property. >> Right. We cannot build behind the

[15:52] superintendent so that it seems as though that would be really

[15:56] » Yeah, >> I believe one of the other properties

[15:58] mentioned it's either going to be Cory's property or it's going to be town

[16:01] property. >> I was going to say I thought somebody

[16:04] who's got property >> Yeah.

[16:08] [laughter]

[16:10] other people. >> So, that would be great, but it's the

[16:12] the time frame because we're already on town and it's just

[16:16] so long. That that's the that's the that's the key right there.

[16:24] If I could just say something, go ahead. I mean, this subdivision is

[16:28] I don't I don't know.

[16:32] It's self-explanatory, right? It's this middle school is literally with Hubin in

[16:36] that in that area. So,

[16:42] the traffic going through the school, you know what I mean? This is during the

[16:45] day. Everybody's at work. There's there's a couple cars. That's the gist

[16:48] of it. There's there's nothing else really going on there far as disruptive

[16:53] of anything from from 8 to 2, you know what I mean?

[16:59] But it's literally across from the middle school. I don't know.

[17:02] » Looking at a school, that was your point. And it's still I mean it's the

[17:06] the the uptick of the traffic in which there is none. Um there is none

[17:13] as far as what do we consider traffic? I don't more than 10 cars. I don't know.

[17:20] But the amount of traffic that comes after school I mean you that make sense

[17:25] like that's been a lot of cars leaving the school and going

[17:29] west and down every division. You know what I mean?

[17:35] So for me that argument doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Um

[17:41] because you live across from a middle school basically and high school.

[17:46] » It's it's already very close proximity to a building like over

[17:56] » and and addressing the size of the building and looking to the future. I

[17:59] know you talked about 1500 square f feet I think when we initially but we really

[18:04] didn't see any plans on what type of structure it's going to be and I think

[18:09] there should be some uh maybe some limitations based on what what you're

[18:13] going to do around the building is it going to be something that just a

[18:16] building that sits there is there going to be some shrubbery uh something that

[18:20] kind of puts it in in the same thing as as a residential neighborhood and uh if

[18:27] that's not the case and it kind of stands out a little bit different. Uh

[18:31] looking at registration, I know we asked about that, talked about it. The state's

[18:36] pretty vague on that. They really they say yes and then they say, "Well, maybe

[18:40] this and maybe that." It's kind of a a real wishy-washy area. Um I looked at

[18:46] the website, went and looked at that. Uh they've had some legal problems in the

[18:50] Midwest with their various uh school locations. Don't know why I didn't get

[18:56] into it. It's just that they mentioned those lawsuits and happened. Uh

[19:03] other than that, uh you know, not being a certified school, I mean, I understand

[19:07] Bible training is probably a little bit different than a standard school. Uh

[19:11] that that kind of concerns me. But, uh you know, I think the purpose is good.

[19:17] Uh I think there may be uh you know if there's going to be problems down the

[19:21] road I would hope not that it could be from that and understanding you know the

[19:26] neighborhood that they don't really want their resident changed to something

[19:29] other than at least something that looks like home.

[19:32] » So you know that's kind of where I'm coming from.

[19:37] » Well all of the plans that we're looking at look like homes. In fact, we, you

[19:43] know, we were looking at Cory's building that he's working on right now, um, for

[19:48] two purposes. One purpose to see if that structure would work for a Lifewise

[19:54] building. >> Mhm.

[19:55] » And it absolutely would with some modifications on the inside.

[20:00] » So, um, yeah, we're not we're not building a commercial building that you

[20:06] could put up a, you know, another kind of business in. And it's my

[20:11] understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, heading

[20:15] wrong a lot, the variance would only apply to a Likewise building. It

[20:21] wouldn't apply to any other business. >> That would have to be the limitations

[20:24] that it would revert back. >> Yeah, I would assume.

[20:28] » Yeah. To a residential. >> You put stipulations for

[20:33] » Yep. >> how it looks, what size.

[20:36] » Yeah. Any expansion that we would do

[20:42] would only require an additional

[20:47] uh two classrooms to accommodate high school and middle school because if

[20:52] their schedules over overlapped, it would never we would never require a

[20:58] bigger space than that. >> Are you talking about possibly doubling

[21:03] the size of the exist existing building? Probably not double.

[21:07] » Not double. No. >> Depends how many kids you have. You

[21:12] have 1,500 square feet for what? 90. No. >> For 25 at a time, though.

[21:17] » Yeah. >> So, we would never need we would never

[21:22] need really more than 1,800 square feet in my mind. Um, they talk about uh 25

[21:28] square feet per student. Um so the classroom is only going to be

[21:35] you know less than 700 square ft. So, um, at the very most

[21:41] of us, uh,

[21:51] there any question,

[21:58] » John, to adjubs,

[22:02] flowers. >> Yeah. I mean, yeah, it's a residential

[22:05] neighborhood. You don't want to put something out that is just so fun.

[22:09] » Yeah. [laughter] >> No, I mean it literally would look like

[22:11] a house with all the fixings. >> Like we all keep up our own properties.

[22:15] » Yeah. We've lost something that looks nice to students to come to.

[22:20] » Sure. >> So realistically, even with an addition,

[22:23] I mean, you're 3,000 square feet or less. More than likely.

[22:27] » Oh, yes. >> More than likely.

[22:29] » With each lot sold and put a 2,000 foot home on it, you're looking at 8,000

[22:34] square foot of home on four lots. This would still

[22:38] be quite quite a bit smaller than that.

[22:45] » You guys you guys would

[22:49] use the or the would use the east half for your building

[22:56] and you would lot off the west half for homes. Do I understand that right or

[23:01] » that's up to the property owners? >> Okay. That would not be a fuss

[23:07] because any any partial if it's a partial

[23:12] uh donation the don the donated property would be likewise

[23:17] but the rest of it you know if we didn't use the whole part it would be the

[23:22] donors >> and that would be up to you guys what's

[23:26] allowed in that there Any

[23:36] thoughts on that? >> The rest of it would be helpful. unsure

[23:42] houses.

[23:46] » I think from a town, you know, that was brought up to me from a town perspective

[23:50] is, you know, you have you'd have four lots that you

[23:56] would have taxes paid on uh

[24:04] » nonprofit. Well, but what I'm saying is at least

[24:08] you would be able to keep two. >> You would be able to keep two.

[24:12] » Yeah. >> Which I think is

[24:13] » Well, I see what you're saying. >> Yeah. Because there's not, you know,

[24:17] we're not making much more property in town. So, as to your point, Yeah.

[24:22] » Um and infill housing is what has been the mantra for years now because it's

[24:27] harder and harder to property unless you have 100% of the business or property

[24:30] owners on on board. So, that infill housing is what promotes

[24:36] uh improvements and and raises property tax values and improves um

[24:42] neighborhoods. So yeah, and on our utility side as well, you know, more tap

[24:47] fees and uh we just talked about a wastewater

[24:52] project that's like okay, is it four years out or is it six, seven years out

[24:56] depending on dollars. So another avenue of improving our way to our treatment

[25:00] plant is for customers that means more more dollars in that allows us gives us

[25:05] a greater position when we go to bond a project um and seek financing it gives

[25:12] us a better position. So yeah we want to look at it from all those angles. Our

[25:15] comp plan what our comp plan says about housing promotion in town and and

[25:20] growing within ourselves uh within our means too. So yeah,

[25:24] » plenty commission looked to this. >> Um, no, no, it comes to the BCA

[25:28] initially. Yeah, not initially comes to the BCA for a variant, use variant for

[25:35] » Can I respond to that? >> One of the things that draws people into

[25:40] a community is the strong school >> in the community. And uh I think and

[25:49] this is just just my opinion, but I think when people see, wow, there's a

[25:56] Lifewise Academy, this school is really a strong I I think it just speaks to how

[26:03] strong it is for a community to embrace an additional educational opportunity.

[26:11] I really do. I'm I'm not just throwing that out there as a life-wise

[26:15] representative. I think when you know when we moved to North Judson years ago,

[26:20] it was such a thriving booming town school was just overflowing. And and I

[26:26] think anything that the town can do to encourage that kind of growth of

[26:33] education encourages people to say, "Hey, that,

[26:37] you know, that's a town that is growing. That's that's my opinion of that and

[26:45] I understand you know you know there aren't too many places to build new

[26:50] homes now >> I understand and I think the point too

[26:54] our businesses I mean in a lot of sense hollowed out completely hollowed out we

[26:59] were still working on getting a grocery store here what like how is that

[27:04] possible you know it's because we buy up small small goes away and we we're left

[27:10] So, it's not much. So, yeah, in the vein of that, it's uh it makes it more

[27:16] attractive to have those things. And I don't think anybody opposes

[27:20] » you guys at all. I think it's location. That's all that comes down to these

[27:24] letters and input from people. It's just location and they have a they have a

[27:28] personal stake in it. And I can't I I don't know how I would feel if it was my

[27:32] next order. I I couldn't couldn't tell you. I don't know even across the

[27:36] street. But I take your point entirely. Absolutely. I think there is the more

[27:41] the more and I guess I don't know anything about life wise never heard of

[27:45] it any of that but um I take your point for sure

[27:53] I guess I don't have any I don't have any questions um I guess if there are

[27:57] none we want to make motion to close the public hearing

[28:02] we'll make the motion close the public hearing if you know what else has

[28:05] anything else to say >> could I say one thing

[28:11] [laughter] just in on the point of lifewise

[28:16] want to to promote it but several back in the I think it was in the 1800s and

[28:21] mind would be pronouncing this man's name wrong but his he was a philosopher

[28:27] from France and he came to America and he seen how great America was. France

[28:33] had a they had the rich and they had the very poor and there was no middle class

[28:37] at all. And he could not really understand why America was so prosperous

[28:45] until he went into the churches. When he went into the churches,

[28:50] he said, "America is great because America is good. And when America ceases

[28:57] to be good, it will cease to be great." And likewise

[29:02] is not it's a non-denominational thing that doesn't exclude people from other

[29:09] denominations. It's Christian denomination but that that's the only

[29:14] thing about it. So that that's a thought to

[29:18] and today we're we're in dire need of that. When I was in when school school

[29:25] was very safe there was no one thought about bringing

[29:29] a gun to school. And I I would think that we should do

[29:35] all we can to encourage somewhere some the basics of Christianity to our

[29:42] children to make America as great as it as it once was.

[29:52] It's my call.

[29:57] Um so there's one motion on the floor. Close public

[30:01] hearing. Do we have a second? >> Second. All in favor?

[30:05] » I

[30:12] bring to a vote

[30:16] to make a motion uh to either accept or deny and then on the basis of how

[30:24] » Yeah. How much? >> Yeah. salads the whole thing or

[30:28] » about half and um yeah the sign of it seems to be what has questions asked

[30:36] answer >> on the the look of it of course that's

[30:41] another one but >> yeah and it's uh

[30:45] approved deny or approve with restrictions basically

[30:52] » I'll make a motion we approve the variance with the restrictions

[30:58] that is pertaining to local, county, state ordinances, rules,

[31:06] and guidelines. And it this fits in with the decorum of

[31:10] the neighborhood.

[31:16] Second time, all those in favor say I.

[31:21] » I. >> I.

[31:25] Was that was you Sarah Deac? >> No, no. I was just I was looking over

[31:29] stipulations that I written down it down >> and that was number one talking about

[31:34] the property reverting back to residential if wise I can't remember

[31:39] what wise life >> lifewise I know I had it close

[31:45] um and being split into two parcels I think that's part of what we talked

[31:48] about also >> uh state approved Jerry carried covered

[31:52] that pretty good at that and the entrance off Campbell street

[32:00] and I can't think of any stipulations other than the city the town would have

[32:04] any requirements. >> No, no, those were the questions where

[32:08] and how oriented and uh just the more visual aspect of which that was covered.

[32:15] You know, looking at state requirements and that when it comes to the fire

[32:19] marshall and things of that nature, >> do they have to meet the same

[32:22] requirement as school?

[32:27] » Any building that's open to the public is subject to the fire marshal

[32:31] jurisdiction. >> Yep. Yep. And and we would have an

[32:36] experienced contractor handling all of the details and he would

[32:42] kill them. And that this half of the property is my

[32:47] understanding on the east half of the property. Is that my understanding of

[32:51] what we're in written here or am I wrong? Just so I can discuss.

[32:58] » Yeah, the east side. That's what we talked about

[33:01] » looking at the layout of the property. U

[33:07] » which as the original application was the west side would be allocated for

[33:12] housing. >> Okay.

[33:13] » Yeah. development future out development that's the way I understand. Gotcha.

[33:19] » Can I ask the parcels are

[33:25] » that's narrow. So can >> that's another one is it would be and if

[33:29] you split it in half you could almost join the two on the east side the one

[33:33] » okay >> and the other two on the other side they

[33:35] would fit um Joan uh Batty and the uh neighborh they almost mirror the

[33:42] property line so you I don't you would have to change much there

[33:46] » well the parcels on the map are divided along Campbell Street long ways not

[33:53] yes and I think if you >> that's okay that we

[33:55] » Yeah and I Think as long as what's understanding I believe in in splitting

[33:59] it east side and west side like that whole neighborhood you would take that

[34:03] line and just draw it in half and that would essentially give you four parcels

[34:08] right >> lifewise you would like I said want to

[34:10] join one part parcel to just put it in the center or where it's oriented best

[34:14] for your needs and according to our town code but on that would if you split it

[34:19] in half that would essentially leave you those other two parcels that mirror

[34:22] » the neighboring one so yeah that would be that makes total sense as As far as

[34:26] the makeup of the block, our zoning map, >> that's why we asked for the whole thing

[34:33] because we the dividing line with that are used.

[34:36] » Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

[34:41] » Yeah. That's that's the way I

[34:45] » So you'd have the access on Division Street

[34:49] for the other half basically >> for the Lifewise campus. No, for the

[34:54] other one for >> for the other the other the two

[34:56] residential. Let's see. >> Off.

[35:00] Yeah, >> west side. I guess one could be off

[35:04] ambush. >> Yeah, division,

[35:08] » right? Block. No, it's evening. So division is the road that runs into the

[35:13] middle school, you know, parking area. >> So it's pretty much like this

[35:20] and the west side of this property. So likewise on this

[35:32] split in half this way, >> you still have to have

[35:38] you. Okay, I see what you're talking about.

[35:51] This is

[35:59] » okay. That's what I was.

[36:03] » Okay. [clears throat] Yeah.

[36:09] » And the details. Okay. We have >> Jerry

[36:15] Jerry made the motion. Isaiah second

[36:24] » up here got comments or questions or anything short?

[36:31] I don't either. Um, >> there's a 30-day remmonstrance period.

[36:37] » Just never got >> No, it never got back to us. Our

[36:39] attorney had to travel overseas. There was a death in his family. So, if not,

[36:43] he would be on our Zoom. >> Uh, there is a 30-day period where uh if

[36:48] we receive anything, whether it's through the and this is where specifics,

[36:52] uh, whether it's u through the courts or or some measure of a remmonstrance to

[36:58] that. Um, but there is a 30-day period after approval. There he is. So here

[37:03] again like I just said the details. >> Yeah,

[37:05] » for certain of I'm not speculate. >> Yeah, and we'll communicate. Uh I know

[37:09] it was 30 days because we had another Yeah.

[37:11] » variance recently uh that Justin uh we were informed of that then as well. So,

[37:20] » uh I guess if nobody else has any questions or any additional

[37:25] goods. >> One additional thing we uh for the year

[37:27] we need to let a uh chair and vice chair the BZA like we do every year. So I know

[37:34] Josh had that last year if someone makes wants to make a vote

[37:38] make a motion that we

[37:43] second. All in favor

[37:49] with

[37:54] » I guess a motion on vice chair. Yeah. >> Jerry. Yeah.

[38:06] » All right. >> You got it set up.

[38:11] I guess if there's no business or further question then you make a motion

[38:17] to adjourn. Second. All in favor? >> I know we're

[38:22] » Thank you.

Town of North Judson BZA Meeting - 1/16/2026

Transcript