Proposed changes heard at Planning Commission mtg.

Beth Rumsey
Staff Writer


The Ripley County Planning Commission heard proposed changes in regards to setback requirements at the regular meeting held on Tuesday, November 3. The first proposed change presented by Planning Director Tad Brinson will affect properties zoned I-1 and I-2.

According to Brinson, the current requirement of 100 ft. was set in order to prevent businesses from being too close to residences. The new proposal will amend a portion of the code to allow for a lesser setback only when there is more than one general business or industrial zone within the area.

The proposal will reduce the amount of setback from 100 ft. to 20 ft. if the criteria are met. Brinson noted that if the surrounding zones are agricultural then the setback will remain 100 ft. The commission will review this proposal for a decision at the next meeting.

The second proposed change is in regards to the width to depth ratio in respect to parent tracks; acreage that has had a portion of land with road frontage sold that will have new housing built on it. When this situation occurs, according to Brinson, the parent track is out of compliance with the code resulting in the file of a variance for review by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The proposal will exempt a parent parcel from the 4:1 width to depth ratio, according to Brinson. The planning commission will review this proposal for a decision at the next meeting.

The planning commission unanimously agreed to send the new flood plain ordinance to the commissioners with a favorable recommendation. The current ordinance is out of compliance with current DNR specifications. The new code will require a finished floor to be 2 ft. above the ground in case of flooding.

All commission members were in attendance. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 2 beginning at 7 p.m. in the courthouse annex.