25 July 2022 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr., Chairman, Russell Beiersdorfer, Jeff Hermesch, Mark Lehman, Joe Vogel, Jake Hoog, Dan Lansing, Jim Thatcher, and Eric Lang
Also Present: Mark McCormack, Plan Director, Nicole Daily, Zoning Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
There were 13 citizens in the room
Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.
ACTION ON MINUTES: none
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS: none
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Review public comments from the 7/14/22 workshop at Agner Hall in Lawrenceburg.
Review and discuss proposed ordinance amendments and updates to the Zoning Ordinance, specifically with respect to the draft zoning map alternatives and the draft text of Articles 9 and 10 regarding Agricultural and Residential zoning districts , Article 25 regarding General Standards, and Article 27 regarding Definitions.
Mark McCormack reviewed the comments previously from the meeting on May 31st. He reviewed the comments from the workshop on 7/14. Comment on property to keep Ag on panhandle on StationHollow and Chesterville Rd. Comment about walking so far to the building, The police had the parking set to be behind the fence.
Keller Rd properties were bigger as you go further down. Wanting Ag and had R.
Georgetown Rd resident wanted to pass on their rights in a grandfathered situation. They also commented on being able to have barn in R1. Also commented on the Rs with more than 5-10 acres and keeping of animals.
McCormack said he thought that they need to have the animal issues be set for any of these zones with acreage that can support certain animals. Chapter 90 in the state codes talks about keeping off animals. This would be where these animal things come in to play. Ours is mostly about dogs and cats with animal control. Chickens, roosters, horses, exotic animal etc are not covered. We could take the animals out of the zoning codes and have the Animal control handles it. Or they could be covered in the Health Dept. for neglect or nuisance issues. The Sheriff Dept might become involved.
Ag has been on the left side of Georgetown and Residential on the right side. Historically it had been the dividing line in that area.
The man on Wilson Creek and Scenic wants it to be R and it is- but he also noted that others in the area are large lots also. There were comments about building a wall around new sub’s and other ways to separate farms from Suburbia. She also wrote about food scarcity and water issues in 2025.
Most of the people there were specific to their own property issues and others were there for animal issues. Others wanted to be on the mailing list for notifications.
Nicole Daily said the people she talked to were more about their own property and seeing what it was planned to be.
OPENED FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
Steven Perrine- 1658 Scenic Drive.- Currently it was Ag and now it s proposed to be Ag Homestead. Currently the bale and sell hay. Doesn’t see any more development on Scenic at that end. The gentleman that owns is now has made it a family compound. He has no intention of selling any of it. There is no magic ball that predicts the future. He sees himself there for 20 years or so. He’s been there since his grandfather had it. If it’s not forested, it’s in hay. Far, is almost 37 acres. He has a large area in hay as seen on the map.
Mrs. Arnold - 28 acres on Keller across from the Kellers. People couldn’t get off work. They want it kept as Ag. Very steep in the back and sides. It goes down to Mud Lick Creek. We’ve had it 31 years.
Charles Keller- SR 48 and Keller- House is R zoned. Going down Keller Rd they want to keep the farm in Ag. His son will be building a house on the other end of the property. There is sewer there. They want to keep it Ag there. His son is taking it over.
Jason Morgan- property touches Kellers. 3 tracts- 7 acres and 10 acres etc, Keeps bees for 12 years on far back of it away from homes and maple trees. He has chickens and a rooster. His tracts are all currently zoned R. He wanted to be sure he could still legally keep doing what he has been doing. The answer was yes he was still legal.
CLOSED PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Board members comment. Kraus Jr. said that he thinks they need to decide what they want to do with the text before deciding on the maps. Lehman- finalize the text first and then tackle the zone map. McCormack said there are things in the text that need to be addressed. Keeping of animals can be thrown out and addressed elsewhere in the county code. Many people had not read the texts and they needed it explained. Some people don’t want government involved in their lives. There is a line they are reaching here. If gov’t does not get involved at all, then there may be problems with issues.
Discussion of 5 or 10 acres as minimums for Ag uses for animals. Dexter cattle (small cows) would change the numbers also.
10 acres or more kicks in the right to farm law. Thought might be to have keeping of animals be on any type of zone be set for certain amounts of acreage. Might use animal units rather than specific animals. Many examples of situations that work or don’t with the various parameters on animal amounts. There is concern that R areas aren’t going to want a lot of animals kept on even larger lots.
Also wanted to talk to a vet with the animal board of health regarding how to avoid neglect issues or to have proper numbers of land acres to feed them etc.
Baudendistel said people took away from previous meeting - Why have rules if you are not going to enforce them? Really he wants them to know that people need to know that we don’t drive around looking for infractions.
McCormick said that they do inspect when someone complains. If they see another problem around the area - they will address it too. We have rules in place to address situations when we need it.
McCormack will update animal provisions for sure. Also look at outbuildings in R zones. Will go with animal units as the board thinks that will work best as more jurisdictions do it. Roosters see dawn an hour before dawn per Beiersdorfer. Dog barking in subdivision is the similar. They will look at that.
Steve Perrine again- thinking about animal units which makes sense. You need to make it easier to administer. You have grazing animals which need to be fenced. Then chicken and rabbits etc that don’t. Grazing animals factored by weight and so many points per acre. Just a suggestion.
Chris Mueller- 5 acres with the assessor might need to be checked as it was used to determine ag use.
Next meeting will be August 29th.
Meeting adjourned at 9 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
