28 July 2025 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
You can watch the meeting on you tube- click link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ4FTVpO92k
Present:
Plan Commission Appointing Authority Dates of Term
Dennis Kraus Jr., President Elected, County Surveyor 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2029
Mark Lehmann, Vice President Appointed by Commissioners 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2028
Eric Lang Appointed by Commissioners 01/01/2021 to 12/31/2025
Russell Beiersdorfer Appointed by Commissioners 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2028
Jake Hoog Appointed by Commissioners 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2029
Jim Thatcher Elected, County Commissioner Appointed 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2029
Dan Lansing Elected, County Council Appointed 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025
Vacant Appointed, Cooperative Extension Office Vacant - Jeff Hermesch resigned his position as County Extension Agent and this position belongs to whoever holds that job.
ABSENT: Joe Vogel Appointed by Commissioners 01/01/2022 to 12/31/2026
Also present: Nicole Daily, Planning and Zoning Director, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.
ACTION ON MINUTES—May 27, 2025 APPROVED with Jake Hoog’s name spelling corrected.
June 23, 2025 Minutes- APPROVED
OLD BUSINESS – Britton Zone Map Amendment (Carr Road) is being tabled until further notice
NEW BUSINESS –
1. Request: Primary Plat for Harvest Meadow 15-lot Subdivision and request for waiver on sidewalk requirements Applicant/Owner: Maxwell Properties, V Site Location: Dog Ridge Parcel: #15-02-15-100-011.000-010 Township: Kelso Size: +/-28.5 acres
Nicole Daily - Grand Oak Major Subdivision. The actual ordinance for sidewalks is enclosed in their packets. If homes are 1/2 acre or less you would have sidewalls on both sides. The sidewalks are on one side if between 7-12 lots. If 6 or less none required. If greater than 1 acre sidewalks are not required. Took 14 and 15 out of the equation. 62% of the acreage. The average is .72 acres per lot thus requiring sidewalks on one side only. Lang asked for clarification.
Randy Maxwell has no presentation - but will answer any questions you have. There have been 2 subdivisions in the entire county that have them. Park Place has open ditch along the streets and sidewalks on one side. Wood Ridge Estates had a large bike path. The open ditch does not work well and curbs and gutters seem to work well with sidewalks. Open ditch for drainage makes it hard to set the houses and get that sidewalk in.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
An email was received regarding the stormwater retention from this subdivision. Dennis Kraus, Jr. said that will be handled in Plat review after this.
CLOSED PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Lang- Owls Way we addressed this- especially the way open ditch does not make sense with sidewalks.
Lehman- With Harvest Estates, when we wrote the sidewalk - walking path regulations about 10 years ago. We wanted some connectivity. But Mr Maxwell makes a point that we really did not see when we wrote that into the code.
Address the waiver first: Lang motioned to remove the requirement for sidewalks on this subdivision. Seconded by Beiersdorfer. All Ayes. Approved
Lang motioned to approve the plat of Harvest Meadows estates as presented. 2nded by Beiersdorfer. All Ayes, Approved
6:30 PM
2. Request: Replat for S & N Subdivision—Increasing number of lots Applicant/Owner: Zach & Taylor Haacke Site Location: Mt Tabor Road Parcel: #15-11-09-400-046.000-023 Township: Washington Size: +/-7.46 acres
Nicole Daily - Replat increases density - so requires PC approval. This has had several changes over the years. 1976- created 6 lots. 1977 lots 1 and 2 subdivide to 10 ( 17 total now.) 2011 created lot 18 from lot 4 ( 18 lots now. ) This additional split from lot 6 will make it 19 total lots.
There is capacity from sewer district. Tech review reviewed this.
Zach Haake and his father Chris answered questions. Kraus Jr asked about the remainder. They said it was to remain as an nonbuildable lot. It would not have a panhandle wide enough. No intentions to ever build on that per Zach.
Lehman- Asked more pointed questions that led to Haake saying they owned more land on the other side. That would probably join that other larger piece.
Chris Haake noted that theme and driveway makes it ideal for construction.
Lang - noted with that consideration- it is what it is.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION no one of the 3 neighbors present wanted to comment further.
CLOSED PUBLIC DISCUSSION
BOARD- Lang- motioned to approve as repeat as presented understanding that they are creating anon- buildable lot that is not at the moment- an issue. 2nded by Jim Thatcher. ALL ayes- APPROVED
ADMINISTRATIVE
1. Discuss and Vote on text amendments to the requirements of Land Division for split labeling remainders as Buildable or Non-Buildable and labeling remainders with approximate acreage
Were approached on large farmland on Laughery Creek. To do that by code- purposes as farm or recreational purposes. It’s still not buildable as it is floodway. They could have a shelter with DNR permission. In section 200 E. Non buildable lots would have to be labelled on the survey/plat and within the deed.
She also thinks the remainder should be labelled non buildable if that is the case. She also thinks they need to say that non-buildable tracts should be transferred to an adjoined when sold.
Some discussion about farmers that farm on non-buildable tracts and they are not attached to them in some cases.
PC BOARD approved Favorable recommendation to commissioners - the language and amendments to Article 6 Definitions and Article 2 Section 200 and Section 260. Thatcher abstained.
2. Discuss and Vote requirements on existing ponds and land divisions -Section 2554- Approved Favorable recommendation to Commissioners with changing some language especially 10 ft to 30 ft. - Thatcher abstained.
3. Discuss and Vote adding definition of minimum residential square footage for the Zoning Ordinance for Article 6 Definitions.
Single family 950 sq ft, multi story is 650 sq ft plus 300 for 2nd story.
Two family single story -750 sq ft multi story- 500 sq ft plus 250 for 2nd story
Approved to send a favorable recommendation to commissioners with changes as above. Thatcher abstained.
4. Discuss proposed grass ordinance and enforcement actions within residential areas of the unincorporated County - General feeling is there will be an enforcement issue with this. Baudendistel gave an example of one in Rising Sun that has gone on for years. Board decided not to be the grass police. Baudendistel said other avenues could be explored like health dept etc.
5. Discuss Update to the Comprehensive Plan through 2025, workshops for public involvement, surveys, completed studies or plans to be included, separate Bright Overlay Zoning Districts, etc.- NOT discussed.
6. Discuss the First Comprehensive Plan Update Workshop outcome - they are on you tube. Website also has the surveys and questionnaires.
7. Next Comprehensive Plan Update Workshop to be tentatively scheduled for Sept 25th, 2025 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm will get more focus groups set up too. She will offer evening or virtual meetings or workday ones for focus groups.
NO PLAN COMMISSION MEETING IN AUGUST.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
