Zoning issues remain hot button topic for county commission
Public hearing planned Jan. 19
Staff reporter
Once again, emotions ran high and voices were raised during a Marion County Commission meeting regarding zoning issues.
The commission had requested additional discussion with David Brazil during a special meeting Friday to discuss proposed changes to the county's zoning regulations.
The document was compiled by the commission and Brazil following lengthy public hearings and numerous discussions regarding net density of housing development throughout the entire county.
The document that will be discussed at a public hearing Jan. 19, allows up to 16 houses on a section of land only in growth areas around cities. The commission wanted 16 houses per section in the entire county.
Brazil explained in order to accomplish that request, the county's comprehensive plan would have to be changed. The process would be quite lengthy and time consuming since the previous commission had approved the plan and zoning regulations in 2004.
Per statute, the county's planning commission would have to be notified and asked to consider the changes, explained Brazil.
The proposed changes identified growth areas around cities but Brazil said Hillsboro and Marion weren't interested in those changes. However, other communities could benefit from the development, he said.
"If we stick to these rules and shut things off (development-wise), we're shutting our county down," said commissioner Randy Dallke. "We want to open up our county. If developments at Eastshore and the county lake weren't allowed, where we be?"
Currently, development is not allowed without utilities. Brazil said the changes would allow development without utilities in place.
"What problem are we trying to prevent by restricting growth?" asked Holub.
"We need to preserve agriculture," said Brazil, and prevent urban sprawl.
Holub said agriculture is preserved when homes are clustered.
"If homes are spread out one per 40, that chews up a lot of ag land," Holub said.
Dallke said the proposed changes didn't address small acreages that don't meet the criteria for lot splits.
Brazil said consultant Jim Kaup suggested that lot splits prior to 1992 would be able to develop but the wording was not included in the proposed changes.
Brazil further explained that the documents are created by Kaup.
Eileen Sieger, chairman of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals, asked the commission if these changes were what the commission and Kaup compiled.
The commission responded they wanted the changes made countywide because residents are asking them to do this.
"You can't give everybody everything," Sieger said. "Zoning protects people's rights."
She continued that the commission cannot operate by giving each individual what they want.
"What I'm hearing is that you not only want to change zoning regulations but the county's comprehensive plan," Sieger said. "This takes us back to square one."
The volunteer planning commission and zoning board had spent numerous hours to finalize the comprehensive plan, Sieger said.
She encouraged the county commission to obtain training in county planning.
Dallke said he would be willing to discontinue development of 16 houses per section if it "hurts the county."
Discussion continued and when it all was said, it came down to the fact that the public hearing had to be about the proposed changes that were published in the newspaper.
The county commission can review the proposal after the planning commission submits it, and make changes. The planning commission then will be given a chance to review the new changes and make recommendations.
In the end, the county commission will make the final changes to the regulations.
In other business:
— Rollin Schmidt, county noxious weed director, requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
Following the session, a second executive session was requested that included county clerk Carol Maggard and county attorney Susan Robson.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Michele Abbott-Becker, county emergency management director, will apply for a grant from the Office of Domestic Preparedness for generators.
The commission determined portable generators could be placed in designated shelters in smaller communities and a larger generator could be placed at the county lake hall for a county shelter.
— Abbott-Becker requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
