Cathy May, Contributing Writer

At the April meeting of the Ripley County Area Plan Commission, Attorney Amy Streator, POA for Peter L. Hillenbrand, presented an application to rezone 60 acres from the Residential-1 District to the General Business District. The property is located at 857 Six Pine Ranch Road in Batesville.

The plan commission felt that it was too much property to rezone General Business. They voted 12-0 to give a favorable approval for 25 acres, which included all buildings currently on the property, as General Business. The other 35 acres were zoned as Roadside Business. This property is known as Wallhill Farms. The plan is to make a lodge on the property that will include banquet halls.

Raymond and Marie Gunter applied for primary approval of the E.M. Gunter Divide One Agricultural Subdivision. The one lot is 14.07 acres in the agricultural-2 district. The property is located at approximately 12267 North County Road 200 East in Batesville. The request was approved 12-0.

All twelve members of the commission were present. Attorney John Ertel and Planning Director Tad Brinson were also present to advise the commission. The next meeting of the Ripley County Area Plan Commission will be on Wednesday, May 7 instead of their regular Tuesday night meeting because of the Primary Election.