The Plymouth City Council members considered a recommended amendment to the Subdivision Control Ordinance during their meeting last week.
Continue readingPlymouth City Council Considers Amendment to Amend Subdivision Control Ordinance
Plymouth City Council Discusses Planning, Transportation Contracts
The Plymouth City Council members this week discussed agreements for planning services and transportation services for 2019.
Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety to Review Complete Streets Policy
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will review a Complete Streets Policy drafted by the Discover Plymouth organization.
Marshall County Council Approves Interim Deputy Plan Commission Director Position
Marshall County Plan Commission President Stan Klotz went before the county council Monday morning to ask for an interim deputy plan commission director position with the impending retirement of Ralph Booker.
Plymouth BOW and City Council to Meet Tonight
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will meet tonight where the 2018 intergovernmental agreement between Marshall County and the City of Plymouth for planning services will be discussed. If that agreement is approved, Plan Director Ralph Booker will present the 2018 planning services agreement.
The board members will also consider the 2018 animal control services agreement.
Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today.
County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters and Highway Administrator Laurie Baker will be before the commissioners for a report as well as information from CHA Design Construction Solutions. Pam Davis will present information on the effort to brand Marshall County and EMA Director Clyde Avery will provide his quarterly report as well as a strategic plan.
Marshall County Commissioners Adopt Ordinance for LaPaz Property Rezoning Request
A public hearing was held on Monday concerning the rezoning of a property in LaPaz for the opportunity of economic development on a property located just north of U.S. 6 in LaPaz by the new interchange. The zoning classification would go from A-1 Agriculture to a C-2 Highway Commercial District zone.
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained to the Marshall County Commissioners that the rezoning would extend the highway business district in that area for economic development. No commitments were made as part of the zoning request, but six acres is available to improve economic development in the town. The state owns several other parcels in that area.
Brownfield Grant Creating Buildable Properties, Adding Jobs
Marshall County Plan Director Ralph Booker and Joel Markland with BCA Environmental Consultants out of Elkhart presented information about the county’s Brownfield Grant.
Markland said the three-year grant will be closed out at the end of this month.
Marshall County Commissioners Adopt Solar Energy Systems Zoning Amendment
The Marshall County Commissioners adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning solar energy systems. According to the amendment, a solar energy system is a device that captures daylight for “interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage, or distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electricity generation, or water heating.”
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that he and Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt have gotten permit requests for solar energy systems in Bremen. There wasn’t much to the permitting process or the zoning requirement for the systems, but a public hearing was held Monday morning to set regulations.
Marshall County Commissioners Consider Vacating Forest Drive
The Marshall County Commissioners were petitioned with a request to vacate Forest Drive between 11th Road and U.S. 31 that runs along the west line of Carl Stockberger’s property in the county.
The road was dedicated in 1996 and had a curve in it which was later modified to straighten out the road. Plan Director Ralph Booker said the intention for that road was to give residents access to 11th Road in the potential development of a subdivision there. The development never occurred.
A public hearing was opened to gather comments about the possible vacation of the road and no comments were made.
Marshall County Eases Restrictions on Sign Content
A Supreme Court decision on free speech has led to changes in Marshall County’s sign ordinance. Continue reading
Culver Teams Up with Marshall County for Planning Services
The Town of Culver is partnering with Marshall County for building and planning services. County Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt has been selected to serve as the town’s new building commissioner. He replaces Russ Mason, who stepped down in October. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Table Zoning Ordinance Amendment
The Marshall County Commissioners decided to take more time to decide upon a commercial overlay district for Marshall County until more research is conducted.
Plan Director Ralph Booker presented the ordinance amendment for the Marshall County Zoning Ordinance that would allow commercial uses such as auto repair and maintenance facilities, as well as bakeries, drug stores, hotels and motels, offices, restaurants, small wind systems, and special uses such as communications towers, light industry and self storage units.
Proposed Permit Fee Amendment to Zoning Ordinance Passes on First Reading
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed increase in building permit and improvement location fees Monday morning.
Several of the fees increased by $5 while others jumped considerably. Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that the fees will help cover costs. The fees haven’t been amended for several years.
Permit fees for accessory structures larger than 1,601 square feet rose from $80 to $100 for structures up to 2,000 square feet. Permit fees for accessory structures larger than 2,000 square feet will be $150.
LaPaz Residents Speak out Against Ordinance Amendment
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning to take comments on the proposed ordinance amendment on the Commercial Overlay District.
The ordinance encompasses all of Marshall County, but some LaPaz citizens spoke out about the ordinance as they’re worried about commercial development with the overpass on U.S. 6 and the new U.S. 31.
Residents are concerned about existing businesses that were “displaced” when the new U.S. 31 was constructed. Most traffic now passes by LaPaz instead of through LaPaz and taxpayers are concerned about those establishments. Agriculture ground was also a focus of concern as commercial developments could dig into the county’s agribusiness district.
Plymouth BZA Tables Sign Variance Request
The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals considered a request to have more than two signs and to reduce the front setback at a business located at 309 E. Jefferson Street.
Representative Jon Webster owns Mooney’s, a business within a group of companies inside the building at that location. He told the quorum of BZA members that he has an ice cream parlor sign up at the corner of the property. He stated that he would like to keep his sign up where it is to help advertise his business. Webster was told to come before the BZA to make that request.
Marshall County Commissioners Hold Public Hearing on Pretty Lake Setbacks
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing during their meeting Monday morning concerning an ordinance regulating building setbacks at Pretty Lake.
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction at the lake would need to be a 45 foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line. The plan commission also approved the ordinance with one commission member against.
“The changes are: where adjacent properties have been developed with principle structures on one or both sides the required setback line may be greater than 45 feet from the 789.0 elevation line and shall be determined by a line drawn between the furthest extension of adjacent structures including any decks, balconies or raised patios,” said Booker.
Commissioners Approve and Adopt Road Vacation Ordinance
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning concerning the vacation of a portion of 3B Road between Quince and Olive Roads.
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that the request went before the plan commission at their recent meeting. The members of the plan commission found findings of fact that the conditions have changed in order to defeat the original purpose of the road, there is a public interest to vacate the road and the value of the road will not be diminished with the vacation of the road.
The road is grass-covered, not paved, and is surrounded by farm land and timber. The road is maintained by the adjoining landowners.
Booker said the request was brought forth by the Daniel and Beth Cashen who own property along a portion of the road.
“The request was to vacate from Quince Road all the way to the east end of the Cashens’ property,” said Booker. “At the east end, the deal was that the Cashens’ would give a portion of ground for a 120 foot cul-de-sac in which 3rd Road would truncate. The Cashens are in the process and have received a building permit for a new home so we’ve given it an address of 14755 3B Road.”
There was one opposition to the road vacation and a letter was submitted to the plan commission by Pike Lumber that summarized their opinion. The company has access from Quince Road going east along 3B Road. The access road is used by employees to inspect forest land, harvest timber and to control the deer population with deer reduction events. Officials believe that access to this road would be restricted if the commissioners would approve the road vacation request.
The plan commission approved an ordinance that only allows the vacation of the road along the Cashens’ property. The commissioners also approved that ordinance. The rules were suspended and the ordinance was approved on all three readings to adopt the ordinance.
