20 December 2021 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr., Chairman, Russell Beiersdorfer, John Hawley, Mark Lehman, Jake Hoog, Dan Lansing, Jim Thatcher, and Eric Lang
ABSENT: John Hawley, Dan Lansing, and Joe Vogel
Also Present: Mark McCormack, Plan Director, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.
ACTION ON MINUTES: none
OLD BUSINESS:none
NEW BUSINESS:none
ADMINISTRATIVE:
2022 meeting schedule was approved. Similar to this year’s schedule with 4th Mondays except for December which is the 3rd Monday.
New fee schedule after much discussion on how to get surveys submitted that are not significantly deficient. Time penalties, such as a week, were discussed as being more of a deterrent than increased fees. They settled on using both options. They are putting together a memo that lists things to include on the surveys etc so expectations are known up front. They changed time dates for surveys to 180 days. $35 for updated surveys. The board wanted McCormack to seek sign companies with better prices for the yard signs for public hearings. Flat fee for tech review changed to $150. Approved for Jan 1 effective date with changes that they mentioned tonight.
Article 2 in the Plan Code is being revised to include procedures for meeting conduct, amount of time for presentations and limitations on the amount of time for each person affected by the proposal and different times for some who are not that affected. 3 minutes and 1 minute were the respective times suggested. Much discussion on how to achieve a fair representation of the facts both pro and con. Revisions to be reworked and brought back in January.
To review and discuss proposed ordinance amendments the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance—including the Zoning Update Study (involving Text and Map changes) After noting that he wanted to recheck the residential zoning colors for accuracy, McCormack gave some explanations on densities that he’d used in making the maps.
He also gave the board a handout summary of their responses on what to consider moving forward. Board suggested changing Rural Residential naming to Agricultural Homestead. Text changed to move bee keeping and timber etc to both Agricultural zones.
They plan on having public meetings to allow people to respond to the changes in January and February.
There was a general consensus that a conversion map was the best place to start. There were mixed opinions per McCormack, on whether or not to deviate and allow for areas to essentially be rezoned - not only from what they are now but from what they have been historically.
For map changes the Board will prioritize existing and historical zoning, existing land use- definitely, proximity to sewer and water is considered for increased density and intensity, as is accessibility, prime farmland had mixed opinions on prioritization as some has already been developed. Also considered are environmental constraints such as slopes, soils, and flood plane and flood prone areas as they have a huge impact on development. Future land use should be used for guidance. Ranking criteria will be sent to the board to vote.
They plan to reconvene the Zoning Technical Advisory Committee to discuss specific items.
Target is to have the text and zoning maps to commissioners by May at the latest per McCormack.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
